HHC Health & Home Care Clinical Policy And

HHC HEALTH & HOME CARE Section: 14-15
Emergency: Foreign Body In Eye __RN
PURPOSE:
To remove foreign body from the eye and prevent
further injury.
CONSIDERATIONS:
1. It is important to assess what the object is, e.g.,
metal, wood, lint, as object may be embedded or
may result in infection. Do not attempt to remove
any object embedded in the eye.
2. Keep patient from rubbing eye.
3. Do not insert any instrument into eye in an attempt
to remove a foreign body.
4. Refer patient to physician or ER if object is
embedded in eye or something is thought to be
embedded but cannot be located.
EQUIPMENT:
Dry sterile gauze, handkerchief, or clean tissue
Cotton-tipped applicator
Sterile water or tepid tap water
Gloves – if available
Paper Cup
PROCEDURE:
1. Adhere to Universal Precautions.
2. Explain procedure to patient.
3. Pull down lower lid to determine if object is on inner
surface. If object does lie on inner surface, gently
remove it with corner of sterile gauze, clean
handkerchief or paper tissues dipped in water.
Never use dry cotton around the eye.
4. If object has not been located, it may be lodged
beneath the upper lid.
a. While patient looks down, grasp lashes or upper
lid gently.
b. Pull upper lid forward and down over lower lid.
Tears may dislodge the foreign object.
c. If foreign object is still in eye, depress upper lid
with a cotton-tipped applicator placed
horizontally on top of the cartilage and avert the
lid by pulling upward on the lashes against the
applicator. Remove the foreign body with the
corner of the gauze or clean handkerchief and
replace the lid by pulling downward gently on
the lashes.
d. Flush the eye with sterile water or tepid tap
water. Apply protective dressing.
e. If embedded in eye, stabilize as best you can
and place a sterile dressing around the object
or use a paper cup to support the object – apply
a bandage.
f. Refer for medical assistance. Call 911 and
inform patient’s physician.
5. Discard soiled supplies in appropriate containers.
AFTER CARE:
1. Document in patient's record:
a. Incident and degree of injury.
b. Treatment provided.
c. Patient's response to treatment.
2. Refer to medical assistance, if indicated.
318