Claúdio Ferreira Nurse Coordinator LUZ 24 When a foreign body contacts the surface of the eye, it usually causes discomfort. Pain and a stinging or scratching sensation, and difficulty keeping the eye open are the most common symptoms. Watering and redness can also happen. Foreign bodies in the eyes that can be attempted to be removed without professional help are those that only contact the surface of the eyeball , that is, have not caused any injury to the eye. These foreign bodies in the eyes are more common for example when walking outdoors on windy days, in areas with dust or sand or many insects. They are also common in children, if they touch their eyes with sand, dust or other dirt on their hands. What to do Locating and removing a foreign body from one eye can be attempted by the person affected or with someone help, as is more usual with children. The first thing to do before touch the eyes is to wash hands well with enough soap and water for 60 seconds, without forgetting the spaces between fingers; When wearing contact lenses , the one from the affected eye should be removed ; To be able to observe the eye well, a well-lit place should be chosen and the position should be facing a window or strong light, taking care not to have shadows over the eyes; Locate the foreign body If the treatment is done by the affected person, do it to the mirror helps. Open the eyelids wide , with the help of the fingers, and move the eyeball from side to side until locating the foreign body; If the treatment is done by someone else: It is easier for someone to identify and remove a foreign body in another person eye if they are in a lower position . For this, if necessary, the affected person can, for example, be seated with the head turned upwards or lying on their back. With the fingers, the eyelids are opened, and the entire surface of the eye is carefully observed , the lower eyelid is parted asking to look up and the upper eyelid is being parted, asking to look down. Eliminate the foreign body from the eye It is easier to try to eliminate a foreign body if it has been found. However, if for some reason it cannot be located, the removal operation must still be performed. The foreign body must be removed with clean and cold water or with saline solution . Shower water, using a low-pressure jet, may be an option. The water or saline solution should be poured into the eye in order to run from the inner corner, on the side of the nose, to the outer corner , passing mainly in the place where the foreign body is (if this has been identified); After a first wash, straighten the head and close and open the eyelids and observe again to see if it has resolved; If the foreign body is still in the eye, repeat the operation two or three more times. If it is still not resolved, close your eye, cover it with a gauze pad, handkerchief or a clean piece of cloth and seek medical help. What not to do Do not rub or scratch your eyes , to avoid causing a more serious injury; Do not try to r emove the foreign body using tissues, cotton, gauze pads, tweezers or other objects ; Do not attempt to remove foreign bodies that are (or appear to be) trapped in the eye , in which case medical help should be sought. Remember: The stinging or scratching sensation may persist for a few hours after the foreign body has been removed. If after 24 hours the problem still persists , medical attention should be sought; Medical care should also be sought if vision changes occor or a viscous, non-translucent eye discharge is present . If you need to, call LUZ 24 – 217 104 424 – the Hospital da Luz clinical triage service, by phone, available 24 hours, 365 days, for adults and children. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
