When to Seek Medical Care

Because of the specialized nature of eye examination equipment, a foreign body in your eye is usually handled best in your ophthalmologist's office. If an emergency department has the necessary equipment, your ophthalmologist may also see you in the emergency department after hours if necessary. In some cases, a foreign body in your eye may be handled in an emergency department that has both a properly trained emergency physician and the appropriate equipment.

The most important aspect in deciding to seek medical attention has to do with your own evaluation of the severity of the injury. A few guidelines should be followed in deciding to have your eyes evaluated. If you do not meet these guidelines, but you are concerned that there may be significant damage, then it is always safer to be evaluated by your ophthalmologist or in a hospital’s emergency department.

• All children with eye injuries should be evaluated, especially if they complain of any visual problems, scratching sensation, or pain.
  
  
• Adults should seek medical attention for the following:
  
  
  • You feel something going into your eye after hitting metal on metal, such as hammering a nail.
    
    
  • You have removed the foreign body from your eye and continue to have a sensation that something is in your eye, or you continue to have pain and tearing after removal of the object.
    
    
  • You are unable to remove the foreign body from your eye.
    
    
  • Your vision is blurry or otherwise compromised (eg, blind spots, seeing "stars").
    
    
  • You are bleeding from your eye or the area around your eye (including cuts to your eyelid or eyebrow).
    
    
  • Clear or bloody fluid is coming from your eyeball.