Ever have something embedded in your cornea?

shoechic · ‎06-10-2015

It was real windy here briefly & I went out to retrieve my trash can from the neighbors yard and somehow something flew into my eye. When I looked in my magnifying mirror, I could see a tiny piece of debris embedded in my cornea. I have flushed & flushed, but it will not dislodge.

There are a lot of pics on the Internet of exactly what this looks like. Almost everything says to go to the doctor. Which I will do probably tomorrow.

My question is has anyone ever had it come out by itself without going to the doctor?

moonandthestars · ‎03-11-2010

@shoechic I don't know that I've ever had anything in my eye where I would have described it as embedded! I would suggest having a doctor check it out soon - just to be sure all is ok. Need to be very protective of eyes. Seems like a pretty delicate part of us. That being said, if it were me I would keep flushing with eye drops, saline solution to see if that helps. Maybe you'll find overnight it dislodges itself too. But even if that happens I would see a doc. to make sure there are not scratches or abrasions.

Are you in pain?

Take care of yourself - feel better

qbetzforreal · ‎08-28-2010

I would seek medical treatment sooner than later as your eye can become infected.

nada54 · ‎11-03-2018

Yes My son was once playing in the leaves and it happened to him. My husband also works in construction and has had many times when something has gotten in his eye. You have to go to the eye doctor they will get it out and give you drops and a special antibiotic ointment.

Desi · ‎03-09-2010

I wouldn't wait. I think even the ER can remove it with the right tweezer which you should never attempt.

Kalli · ‎03-11-2010

@shoechic , I had something embedded in my eye when I was about 6 or 7. It happened on a very windy day. My pediatrician sent me to an eye dr. I was told it was a piece of metallic dust.

The specialist told me he was going to put my chin on a small curved support. Then a magnet in the shape of a needle was going to be placed very close to my eye to pull the piece out. I was told that I couldn’t move at all during the procedure or the needle would pierce my eye!

I immediately started crying. I cried thru the whole procedure but I never moved. The magnet attracted the metal and it came out. I had to wear an eye patch for a few days. I am in my 60s and still remember this ordeal! I also remember my dad taking me out for an ice cream cone when it was done. 😊

LizzieInSRQ · ‎12-27-2010

It was so painful, my eye would not stop watering and I was at work at the time going in and out of my office on a very windy day. I worked at the Fairgrounds.

I had to go to Urgent Care. They said it was either a tiny piece of wood or a seed like from a strawberry or something. Scratched cornea is no joke. Very painful.

shoechic · ‎06-10-2015

Very happy to report that it did dislodge late last night before I went to bed.

I was shocked that this happened on it's own, but thankful!

Thanks everyone that responded!

golding76 · ‎05-19-2012

Another one here who had the painful experience of a foreign object in the cornea.

I had moved to Miami only two months before the injury occurred and had no connections to the medical community. During one lunch break, I walked along Biscayne Blvd., where my office was located, to Publix market to pick up lunch from their deli. Along the way, some workers were using a jackhammer on the sidewalk. I thought I had evaded any harm as I walked by them, weaving in and out.

That night, my eye began to itch and weep. The itch became pain that increased exponentially as the night wore on. By the middle of the night, I was weeping uncontrollably from the pain.

The next morning I called in sick, found the name of an ophthalmologist in the Yellow Pages and was (mercifully) seen that day.

The doctor said that I had a small piece of metal lodged in my eye. Of course my mind went back to the jackhammer work. The doctor removed it and I began to heal.

The object did leave a permanent scar on my cornea, which all ophthalmologists have noted since that injury.

[Just now read that the object dislodged itself. Good for you!]