CORNEAL FOREIGN BODY REMOVAL

Course overview

A CORNEAL FOREIGN BODY CAN CAUSE EYE PAIN AND LOSS OF VISION. PATIENTS WITH A CORNEAL FOREIGN BODY USUALLY PRESENT ACUTELY WITH DISCOMFORT, PHOTOPHOBIA, DECREASED VISION, COPIOUS TEARING, DISCHARGE, BLEPHAROSPASM, OR CONJUNCTIVAL HYPEREMIA. HOWEVER, THE ONSET OF THESE SYMPTOMS CAN BE INSIDIOUS, PARTICULARLY IN THE ABSENCE OF OBVIOUS TRAUMA. A CORNEAL FOREIGN BODY MAY NOT ALWAYS LEAD TO REDUCED VISUAL ACUITY; HOWEVER, IF NOT TREATED PROMPTLY, INFECTION AND TISSUE NECROSIS MAY ENSUE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE BEST PRACTICES FOR SAFELY REMOVING A CORNEAL FOREIGN BODY AND DESCRIBES THE APPROPRIATE PATIENT EDUCATION AND AFTERCARE. THE ACTIVITY ALSO EXAMINES THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL HEALTHCARE TEAM IN REDUCING THE RISK OF SIGHT-THREATENING COMPLICATIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH CORNEAL FOREIGN BODIES.