Foreign Bodies Trauma and Burns Affecting the Eye course for GPs

This session describes the management of superficial foreign bodies in the eye, corneal abrasions, and how to identify a patient with serious ocular injury.

This session was reviewed by Khyati Bakhai and last updated in January 2022.

Learning objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• explain the immediate treatment of chemical burns
• demonstrate the procedure for the removal of a superficial foreign body and the assessment of a retained foreign body
• discuss superficial trauma and how to assess for foreign bodies, abrasions and lid lacerations, including use of fluorescein
• describe the management of a corneal abrasion
• recognise signs of severe ocular injury

Eye injury is common in both children and adults, with males being more frequently affected than females. Injuries can happen in the home, at work or while people are taking part in sports and hobbies.