A loose foreign body
Procedure
- 1.Tell the patient not to rub the eye.
- 2.Wash your hands thoroughly before examining the eye.
- 3.To dislodge the particle do the following:
- 4.Have the patient grasp the lashes of the upper lid gently.
and downward over the lower eyelid.
Figure 19-1: Grasp the lashes of the upper lid gently.
- 4.If method one above fails, the foreign body must be located first by looking under the lower eyelid:
With the patient facing a window or a light, place your thumb near the edge of the lower lid and pull downward, while the patient looks up.
it may be removed with the corner of a clean handkerchief, cotton swab, sterile gauze or folded edge of a fresh tissue.
the foreign body must be located first by looking under the upper eyelid:
If none is available, use a wooden match, its tip wrapped with cotton wool.
and first finger and pull down and away from the eyeball.
- 13.Instruct the patient to look down.
halfway down, and press downward lightly.
This folds the upper lid back over the applicator, and the inner surface may be clearly seen.
it may be removed with the corner of a clean handkerchief, cotton swab, sterile gauze or folded edge of a fresh tissue. Figure 19-2: Placing the applicator on the upper eyelid. Figure 19-3: Pulling the upper eye lid out and over.
treat as a lacerated eyeball and transport the patient to medical aid immediately. (see "Lacerated eyeball").