Conjunctival Foreign Body

Management

• Symptoms: ocular irritation, pain, foreign body sensation, tearing or red eye.
• Work up:
  • Careful examination of the entire eye is mandatory to rule out intraocular foreign bodies including a thorough slit lamp and dilated retinal examination.
  • B-scan ultrasonography, X-ray film or CT-scanning is sometimes indicated to rule out intraocular foreign body.
  • MRI is contraindicated, since intraocular foreign body may be metallic.
  • Multiple small fragments or debris can be removed with saline irrigation.
  • Localized / embedded foreign body can be removed under topical anesthesia at the slit lamp using cotton-tiped applicator or forceps.
  • Short course of topical antibiotic after foreign body removal may be given to prevent secondary infection.