injuries poisoning
Corneal Abrasions and Foreign Bodies
Key Points
Symptoms of corneal abrasion or foreign body include foreign body sensation, tearing, and redness; visual acuity is typically unchanged. Diagnosis is usually by slit-lamp examination withfluoresceinstaining. Suspect an intraocular foreign body iffluoresceinstreams away from a corneal defect, if the pupil is teardrop shaped, or if the mechanism of injury involves a high-speed machine (eg, drill, saw, anything with a metal-on-metal mechanism), hammering, or explosion. Treat corneal abrasions and foreign bodies by removing foreign material, prescribing a topical antibiotic, and sometimes instilling a cycloplegic. For intraocular foreign bodies, give systemic and topical antibiotics, apply a shield, control pain and nausea, and consult an ophthalmologist for surgical removal. 