A foreign body is an object in your eye that shouldn't be there, such as a speck of dust, wood chip, metal shaving, insect or piece of glass. The common places to find a foreign body are under the eyelid or on the surface of your eye. Don't try to remove a foreign body yourself. Go straight to your doctor or the nearest hospital emergency department for help.Medical treatment generally includes:
The doctor or nurse checks your vision. Once they find the foreign body, they gently remove it after numbing the eye with anaesthetic eye drops. If it is central or deep, they will arrange for you to see an ophthalmologist (specialist eye doctor) to have it removed.Your eye may be washed in saline (sterile salt water) to flush out any dust and dirt.X-rays may be done to check whether an object has entered your eyeball.Your eye is patched to allow it to rest and any scratches to heal.You should not drive until the eye patch is removed.Your doctor will want to see you again to check that your eye is healing and that your vision is all right. You should not miss this appointment. Even though you may feel better, your eye may not have fully healed. The follow-up is needed to make sure the treatment is working.If there are any serious problems, or a residual rust ring, you will be sent to an ophthalmologist. Self-care at home after treatment for foreign bodies in eyes.Self-care at home after treatment for foreign bodies in eyes. Don't drive with an eye patch on-it can be very difficult to judge distances properly.You may take the patch off-usually after about two hours for a foreign body or on the next day for a corneal ulcer or abrasion, or as instructed by your doctor.You may have some discomfort in the eye. You can take pain-relieving medication that contains paracetamol. Check the packet for instructions. Avoid working with machinery or at heights. You may be advised to use drops or ointment to stop infection. Follow your doctor's advice as to how often to put them in. You will need to continue the treatment until your eye has healed.