Foreign objects in eye can range from small irritants like dust or an eyelash to more troublesome fragments such as metal shavings or glass. Promptly addressing the situation can help reduce discomfort and prevent further damage while you decide if additional medical care is necessary.
When something gets stuck in the eye, our response is immediate because it bothers us or hurts us in one manner or another, depending on what the foreign object is.
Symptoms of a Foreign Object in Eye
The symptoms of having a foreign object in the eye are quite immediate. Some of the symptoms you may experience include:
- Eye pain
- Blinking excessively
- Discomfort or a feeling of pressure
- Bloodshot eye or redness in the eye
- Extreme tearing
- A sensation that something has gotten inside your eye as you move your eye while it’s closed
- Experiencing pain while looking at light
- Vision loss or blurry vision in the affected eye
- Eye or eyelid getting swollen
Causes of Foreign Objects in Eye
Numerous objects could strike your eye’s conjunctiva or cornea due to everyday activities. A couple of the common causes of foreign objects in the eye are as follows:
- Eyelashes
- Contact lenses
- Dirt
- Glass shards
- Dried mucus
- Sawdust
- Metal particles
- Sand
- Cosmetics
First Aid for Foreign Objects in Eye
1. Stay Calm and Avoid Rubbing
- Resist Irritation: Avoid rubbing the eye. Rubbing can scratch the cornea or embed the object further, causing more irritation or injury. 2
- Ensure Adequate Lighting: Have the person sit in a well-lit area where you can carefully examine the eye. Ask them to blink a few times to see if natural tears help flush the object out.
2. Gently Flush the Eye
- Irrigation with Clean Water: Use a clean, gentle stream of lukewarm water to rinse the eye. You can use an eyecup, a small, clean glass held with its rim resting on the bone at the base of the eye socket, or a medicine dropper filled with water.
- If available, position the dropper near the inner corner of the eye and allow water to flow outward.
- Alternatively, have the person tilt their head back or to the side, and carefully pour water over the affected eye. 2
- Contact Lenses: If the person wears contacts, remove them before irrigating, as debris can become trapped under the lens.
3. Examine the Eye Gently
- Identify the Object’s Location: After flushing, gently pull down the lower eyelid and lift the upper lid (using clean hands or gloves) to see if the object is still visible on the surface of the eye.
- Use a Moist Gauze (If Needed): If the object remains on the surface and is easily visible, you might try removing it with a small, dampened piece of clean gauze or tissue. Exercise extreme caution—if the object is embedded in the eye or if the removal attempt causes increased pain, do not force it.
4. When to Seek Professional Help
- Persistent Discomfort or Vision Issues: If the object is not dislodged after irrigation, or if pain, redness, blurry vision, or ongoing discomfort persists, seek medical attention promptly.
- Embedded or Large Objects: Do not attempt to remove objects that appear to be embedded in the eye. Instead, cover the eye (if possible) and consult an eye care professional or visit an emergency department immediately. 2
- Warning Signs: Also seek immediate help if the person experiences severe pain, bleeding, out-of-proportion discomfort, or changes in vision.
What to Avoid
| Don’t | Why |
|---|---|
| Rub the eye | Can scratch the cornea or embed the object deeper |
| Use tools like tweezers or cotton swabs | May cause further injury or infection |
| Remove embedded or protruding objects | Requires professional removal to avoid complications |
| Delay seeking help if symptoms persist | Risk of infection, corneal abrasion, or vision loss |
Prevention
Avoiding foreign objects from entering your eye isn’t always possible, and neither is anticipating when such a situation could arise. However, there are certain precautions you can take to avoid the possibility of it happening. Those precautions include:
- Put on safety glasses while playing sports such as squash or tennis.
- Don’t walk near a place or stand close to a location where drilling or polishing is going on.
- Try to avoid working at heights or with machinery whenever possible.
- Don’t drive while wearing an eye patch.
- If you’re working in a dusty or windy area or at a place where there could be debris, make sure to put on safety glasses.
- Protective eyewear should also be worn while working with lawnmowers, toxic chemicals, and tools such as hammers or saws.
When to Seek Emergency Help
Call for professional medical care immediately if:
- The object is embedded in the eye
- You cannot flush it out with water
- There is vision loss, persistent pain, or redness lasting more than 24 hours
- The object is large, sharp, or protruding from the eye
Additional Tips and Precautions
- Avoid Using Tools: Never use sharp objects like cotton swabs or tweezers directly on the eye’s surface unless you’re trained and recommended to do so in specific contexts.
- Do Not Over-Irrigate: While rinsing is helpful, avoid excessive water pressure as it can cause further injury to an already irritated eye.
- Post-Incident Care: Even if the object seems to have cleared, the eye may remain irritated. A soothing eye rinse or a cool, damp washcloth over the closed eyelid can provide temporary relief until professional evaluation ensures no damage remains.
REFERENCES
- Foreign body removal, eye (advanced practice), ambulatory care. Lippincott Procedures. https://procedures.lww.com/lnp/view.do?pId=3850754&hits=foreign,body,corneal,bodies&a=false&ad=false. Retrieved on June, 2024.
- Auerbach PS, et al., eds. Wilderness eye emergencies. In: Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine. 5th ed. Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com.
- Schmitt BD. Eye, chemical in. In: Pediatric Telephone Protocols: Office Version. 16th ed. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2018.
- John Furst, First Aid for Foreign Objects in Eye: 13 Effective Steps Updated January 28, 2024, https://www.firstaidforfree.com/first-aid-for-foreign-objects-in-eye/
Stories are the threads that bind us; through them, we understand each other, grow, and heal.
JOHN NOORD
Connect with “Nurses Lab Editorial Team”
I hope you found this information helpful. Do you have any questions or comments? Kindly write in comments section. Subscribe the Blog with your email so you can stay updated on upcoming events and the latest articles.
