CORNEAL FOREIGN BODY

A corneal foreign body occurs when the cornea (the front of the eye) has a piece of foreign matter lodged in it.

Corneal foreign bodies are common. There may be a history of trauma, or using tools (e.g. hammering) without protective goggles or feeling something blow into the eye.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Sometimes, you can look directly at the eye and see the foreign object embedded in the cornea. However, it is the feeling of something in your eye that will not wash out that typically suggests you may have a corneal foreign body, plus any or all of the
following:

• Sharp pain
• Burning
• Scratchy feeling
• Excessive tearing
• Blurred vision or vision loss
• Redness of the eye
• Blood on the white of the eye
• Sensitivity to light
• Difficulty opening the eye

WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A CORNEAL FOREIGN BODY

• Irrigate the eye with copious amounts of saline or sterile water
• If your symptoms do not resolve you need to have your eye checked by an eye specialist
• The Vista Eye Clinic in Naas and Ranelagh have Urgent Eyecare Clinics. Please phone our clinics (hyperlink to contact us) to arrange an urgent appointment. We aim to see all patients with symptoms of a corneal foreign body on the same day. Please bring a driver with you as it is likely that drops will be inserted into the eye that will blur your vision for a time.
• The removal of a corneal foreign body is a procedure commonly performed in our eye clinics. If corneal foreign bodies are not removed in a timely manner, they can cause prolonged pain and lead to complications such as infection.