Any foreign object in the eye can include dust or even wood or metal shards. Once a foreign object enters the eyes, it will most likely affect the conjunctiva or cornea. The foreign object in the eye can lead to scratches or abrasions on the cornea but these are relatively minor. Nevertheless, some types of foreign objects can cause infection or even impair vision.
The cornea is the clear dome that covers the anterior eye surface which functions as a protective covering. Light enters the eye via the cornea and it also helps focus light on the retina at the rear part of the eye. The conjunctiva is the thin mucous membrane that covers the sclera or white part of the eye. The conjunctiva covers the edge of the cornea as well as the moist area beneath the eyelids.
Symptoms
If there is a foreign object in the eye, there are several immediate symptoms which include the following:
- Eye pain
- Feeling of discomfort or sensation
- Sensation that there is something in the eye
- Extreme tearing
- Pain when the individual looks at light
- Redness or bloodshot eye
- Excessive blinking
It is rare for a foreign object to penetrate into the eye. In most cases, objects that enter the eye are caused by an intense, high-speed impact such as an explosion. The foreign objects that penetrate the eye are known as intraocular objects. The additional symptoms of an intraocular object include blood or fluid in the eye.
Possible causes
Various objects enter the conjunctiva of the eye due to accidents that take place during daily activities. The common types of foreign object in the eye include the following:
- Dirt
- Eyelashes
- Sawdust
- Cosmetics
- Sand
- Contact lenses
- Glass shards
- Metal particles
The sand and dirt fragments usually enter the eye due to wind or falling debris. Sharp debris such as glass or metal can enter the eye due to accidents with tools or explosions. Remember that foreign objects that enter the eye at a high speed pose the highest risk for injury.
Emergency care
If an individual has a foreign object in the eye, immediate diagnosis and treatment will prevent infection and potential vision loss especially in severe or intraocular cases. The removal of the foreign object in the eye can lead to serious eye damage. Immediate emergency care is required for the following:
- Foreign object has rough or sharp edges
- Foreign object is big in size to interfere when closing the eye
- Object contains chemicals
- Object was driven into the eye at high speed
- Foreign object is embedded into the eye
- Object causes bleeding in the eye
For an embedded object in the eye, it is important to seek immediate help. You can prevent further injury to the affected eye with the following measures that you can learn by enrolling in a first aid class:
- Instruct the individual to limit eye movement
- Apply gauze or clean cloth on the affected eye
- If the object too large, you have to cover the eye with a paper cup
- The unaffected eye must also be covered to prevent eye movement in the affected eye