Foreign body in the eye
The sensation of a foreign body in the eye is familiar to almost every person. It occurs when a small speck, a small insect, etc. gets into the eye. A foreign body in the eye is one of the main causes of damage to its structures (conjunctiva, sclera, cornea). It can be located superficially or penetrate into the eyeball. Any injury caused by a foreign body to the eye is potentially harmful to the function of vision.
Symptoms of a foreign body in the eye:
- A burning sensation in the damaged eye, its soreness and redness;
- Increased tearing;
- Possible visual impairment;
- Hypersensitivity to bright light.
Even after removal of a foreign body from the eye, the listed symptoms persist for some time - until the irritation caused by it passes.
Causes
Most often, the ingress of a foreign body into the eye is observed in workers of some professions (stone cutters, lumberjacks, etc.). Therefore, they are advised to wear safety glasses to protect their eyes.
During strong winds, dust storms, there is also a high risk of foreign body getting into the eyes. It is best to wait out the bad weather at home. If for some reason this is not possible, then protective glasses should also be used.
Often, a foreign body sensation in the eye occurs in people who use contact lenses. If the rules for wearing them are not followed (sterility, careful removal, etc.), minor injuries to the surface structures of the eyeball occur, which are manifested by sensations of a foreign body in the eye.
Diagnosis of a foreign body in the eye
The presence of a foreign body in the eye is usually not difficult to diagnose. In most cases, the doctor makes a diagnosis based on the characteristic complaints of the patient and the data of an ophthalmological examination. If necessary, the doctor can gently pull back the lower eyelid or twist the upper eyelid to see if there are any foreign bodies underneath.
With penetrating wounds of the eyeball, when a foreign body gets inside, the examination of patients becomes more complicated and includes:
- Testing visual acuity;
- Examination of the eye with an ophthalmoscope;
- Slit lamp inspection;
- X-ray;
- Ultrasound diagnostics.
Treatment
Patient treatment begins with the removal of the foreign body from the eye. For anesthesia, anesthetic drops, for example 0.25% dicaine, are instilled into the affected eye. Then the foreign body is directly removed using a sterile cotton swab soaked in sterile distilled water. In cases where the foreign body is very small in diameter and cannot be detected during a routine examination, eye drops containing a special dye - fluorescein are instilled into the damaged eye. Thanks to him, the foreign body becomes visible, and the doctor can remove it without much difficulty.
With minor damage to the cornea, after removing a foreign body from the eye, the patient is prescribed an eye ointment with antibiotics. It should be applied within 2 to 3 days.
In case of significant damage to the cornea after removal of a foreign body from the eye, the patient is prescribed the instillation of drops dilating the pupil (1% solution of atropine sulfate). In addition, antibiotic eye drops should be instilled several times a day. To protect the damaged eye from the irritating effect of light, a bandage is applied to it. The treatment continues for 3 to 5 days.
With a deep foreign body in the eye, the patient may need surgery to remove it.
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The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!
