first aid: Foreign Body in the Eye

Symptoms: Pain, redness, burning, tears. Treatment: Pull down lower lid and remove unembedded object with clean tissue if it lies on the inner surface of lower lid. If object has not been located, pull upper lid forward and down over lower lid. Object can be removed from surface of upper eyelid by turning lid back over a swabstick or similar object and lifting off the foreign body with a clean tissue. Finally, flush the eye with water. If object is suspected to be embedded, apply a dry, protective dressing over eye, and call physician or take patient to hospital emergency room. Keep victim from rubbing the eye. For chemical burns, flood eyes with water.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Wound
• Shock
• Severe Bleeding
• Poisoning
• Heatstroke
• Heat Exhaustion
• Frostbite
• Fractures and Joint Injuries
• Foreign Body in the Eye
• Fainting
• Drowning and Near-Drowning
• Burns
• Bites and Stings
• Asphyxia and Obstruction of Air Passages
• Bibliography

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