Fact Sheet: Foreign Bodies

Removal of Foreign Bodies

Irritated Eye… Don’t Assume It’s Nothing Serious

Does your eye hurt? There might be a foreign body trapped on the surface of your eye... or beyond. Any material such as dust, sand or paint that gets into the eye can cause pain, swelling and constant irritation. Foreign bodies in the eye are serious and need the prompt attention of an eye doctor such as Dr. William F. Pittenger, Jr.

What does a foreign body feel like?
Superficial foreign bodies are usually very uncomfortable and may be stuck to the cornea, causing a gritty, red and watery eye. Or the foreign body may be stuck under the upper eyelid, and every time you blink the pain increases. Oddly enough, with penetrating eye injuries there is usually much less pain. However, your vision may also be reduced.

The two kinds of foreign bodies:
Superficial – This type of foreign body sticks to the front of your eye or becomes trapped under the eyelid but doesn’t actually enter the eye. These foreign bodies usually blow or fall into the eye, such as what would happen on a windy day or looking up while dusting the ceiling.

How can you identify and remove the foreign body in my eye?
Dr. Pittenger will examine your eye using a yellow fluorescein stain to help him detect any foreign material on the eye’s surface. He will also examine underneath the eyelid to see if any foreign material needs to be removed from this surface. Once he identifies the foreign body, Dr. Pittenger can carefully lift it out of the eye. For penetrating foreign bodies, a procedure may be necessary to remove them from inside the eye.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of a foreign body in the eye, contact 20/20 Eye Care Centers immediately...  We can help remove the problem and help your eye return to a comfortable state.