How to Care for Your Child with a Foreign Body in the Eye

This leaflet will provide you with information about foreign body in the eye causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and home care advice.

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eye

What is foreign body in the eye?

It is an object in your eye that should not be there, for example, a wood chip, a speck of dust, an insect or a piece of glass.

What are the causes of foreign body in the eye?

  • Dirt
  • Sand
  • Dust (enter the eye because of wind)
  • Glass (can enter the eye after an accident involving broken glass)

What are the symptoms of foreign body in the eye?

  • Your child’s eye can become:
    • watery and red
    • painful
    • sensitive to light
  • these symptoms cause irritation leading to frequent rubbing and blinking
  • Your child may feel like there’s a foreign body in the eye

How is foreign body in the eye diagnosed?

  • The doctor will examine your child’s eye and may use:
    • Local anesthetic eye drops.
    • A special light to look at the eye in details
    • A special dye called “fluorescein” to check if there is an abrasion in your child’s eye.
  • After conducting this examination, the doctor will advise you about the care of your child’s eye and the subsequent management plan. 

How is foreign body in the eye treated?

  • If the foreign body is identified, then the doctor will try to remove the foreign body by using a small cotton applicator, or by washing your child’s eye with sterile water for irrigation.
  • If the doctor cannot remove the foreign body in the emergency department or if your child has a large corneal abrasion (superficial scratch on the cornea), then the doctor will arrange for a review by an eye specialist called an “ophthalmologist”

Home care advice:

  • If the foreign body in the eye is visible, try tapping it with a damp cotton swab.
  • Try to flush out the foreign body by flowing water on the eye as you hold the eyelid open
  • After removal of the foreign body you would expect the symptoms to improve with 48 -72 hours
  • If your child wear contact lenses please avoid these until the eye is healed
  • If your doctor advises to give medicine, you can give
    • Paracetamol (any brand) or Ibuprofen (any brand)   
    • Follow the instruction on the medicine package for the correct dose for your child
    • Do not give your child Aspirin as this can cause serious complications

Seek medical advice if your child:

  • If the symptoms continue for 72 hours or more, Go to the emergency department
  • If your child develops discharge from his/her eye
  • If symptoms are getting worse