Removal of Foreign Body (Eye)
Step 1: Health history and physical assessment
Assess timing of the complaint, mechanism of injury, eye surgeries, prescription drop use, corrective glasses/contact lens use. Anesthetize as needed to facilitate a thorough eye examination.
Physical assessment:
- visual acuity (Snellen eye chart, near vision)
- visual fields (confrontation test)
- extraocular muscle function (corneal light reflex, cover test, cardinal positions of gaze)
- external eye structures
- anterior eyeball structures (cornea and lens, iris and pupil)
- ocular fundus (elicit red light reflex at minimum)
Step 2: Instill ophthalmic anesthetic drops
Pull down on the lower eye lid to create a well. Tilt the patient’s head back and instill 1-2 drops. Have the patient blink to distribute the drops. Instill just prior to evaluation.Tetracaine: onset of action 30 seconds; duration of action 10-20 minutes.
Step 3: Instill fluorescein stain
Step 4: Inspect the cornea
Step 5: Assess for retained foreign body under the upper lid
- Ask patient to keep both eyes open and look down to keep the eyelid relaxed.
- Slide upper lid along the bony orbit to life up the eyelashes.
- Grasp the eyelashes between your thumb and forefinger and pull down and outward.
- Use the other hand to place the cotton-tipped applicator on the upper eye lid.
- Push down with the stick as the lashes are lifted up to flip the upper eyelid inside out. Do not push on the eyeball with the stick.
- Maintain the everted position by holding the lashes against the bony orbit rim.
- Inspect for foreign bodies, color changes, swelling, or lesions.
Step 6: Remove superficial foreign body from cornea or conjunctiva
- Do not apply pressure as this may further embed the foreign body or scrape the cornea.
- Ensure eye is adequately anesthetized to facilitate comfort and cooperation.
- Position patient supine and have them fix their gaze.
- Irrigate eye with sterile saline to moisten cornea.
- Use a wetted cotton-tipped applicator and gently rolling motion to remove the foreign body.
Step 7: Remove embedded foreign body
- If you do not have access to adequate resources (e.g., slit lamp or loupes) and cannot see the foreign body clearly with magnification, refer to ophthalmologist to prevent globe penetration or further damage to the cornea. Do not approach the globe with a sharp instrument if you are uncomfortable or untrained in this procedure. Ensure eye is adequately anesthetized to facilitate comfort and cooperation.
- Position patient supine and have them fix their gaze.
- Hold the syringe and needle with your thumb and index finger of your dominant hand.
- Steady your hand by resting the ulnar side of your hand and fifth finger on the patient’s head near the inferior orbital rim.
- Face the bevel toward you and approach the eye using a tangential approach.
- Gently attempt to flick the foreign body out of the cornea. Do not dig deeply into the cornea.
- If the foreign body sticks superficially, remove with wetted cotton-tipped applicator.
Step 8: Prescribe topical antibiotic therapy to prevent superinfection and lubricate the eye
Avoid use of antibiotic preparations that contain corticosteroids as this can delay healing.
Non contact lens wearers: Erythromycin ointment QID x 3-5 days
Contact lens wearers: Choose antibiotic with pseudomonas coverage such as a fluoroquinolone
Step 9: Assess tetanus status