Penetrating Eye Injury With/Without a Foreign Body
Description Diagnostic criteria General and supportive measures Surgical treatment Referral ICD-10 code: S05.5 / S05.6 DESCRIPTION Penetration through the cornea or sclera to deeper structures with/without a foreign body still present. DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA Urgently refer the patient with a penetrating eye injury or a severely contused eye to an ophthalmic specialist to avoid endoph
Description
Diagnostic criteria
General and supportive measures
Surgical treatment
Referral
ICD-10 code: S05.5 / S05.6
DESCRIPTION
Penetration through the cornea or sclera to deeper structures with/without a foreign body still present.
DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA
Urgently refer the patient with a penetrating eye injury or a severely contused eye to an ophthalmic specialist to avoid endophthalmitis and loss of the eyeball.
GENERAL AND SUPPORTIVE MEASURES
Note:
Use only preservative-free sterile eye drops if there is a possibility of an open eye injury. Do not apply ointment.
Apply a clean sterile eye shield that does not cause pressure on the globe and transfer the patient to the nearest specialist eye unit. If no eye shield is available, the bottom 1/3 of a paper cup may be used.
In cases of high velocity injury with radio-opaque material (metals, certain glass types), an orbital X-ray will reveal a suspected retained intra-ocular foreign body.
SURGICAL TREATMENT
Should be done by an ophthalmic specialist with an operating microscope.
REFERRAL
Urgent
- Any severe blunt trauma to the eye.
- A penetrating eye injury with/without a foreign body.
- Corneal or scleral laceration.
- Distorted pupil.
- Flat, shallow or deep anterior chamber (comparative to the other eye).
- Blood inside the eye.
Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List for South Africa Paediatric Hospital _2023, 5th edition_Updated July 2024
Chapter 16: Eye Conditions, 16.6 Penetrating Eye Injury With/without A Foreign Body