期刊名称:Journal of Education and Teaching in Emergency Medicine
印刷版ISSN:2474-1949
出版年度:2018
卷号:3
期号:4
页码:15-16
DOI:10.21980/J8X067
出版社:University of California Press
摘要:History of present illness: A 50-year-old male presented to the emergency department after developing
sudden onset, severe, sharp left eye (OS) pain while grinding metal. Although he was wearing protective
goggles, he endorsed a foreign body sensation, eye redness, and watery discharge. He denied any contact
lens or eyeglasses use. He otherwise felt well and denied fevers, nausea, changes in urination, joint pain, and
rash. His visual acuity was 20/20 OS. Initial fluorescein dye test demonstrated a negative Seidel test.
Significant findings: The photograph reveals a limbic metallic foreign body with a surrounding corneal rust
ring (arrow) in the three o’clock position of the left cornea.
Discussion: Eye complaints represent roughly three percent of emergency department visits.1 With eye
foreign bodies, one must be cognizant of the possibility of accompanying penetrating ocular trauma which
leads to increased ocular morbidity.2 If globe rupture is suspected, it is imperative that the physician put an
eye shield over the affected eye, refrain from assessing intraocular pressures, and hold off on direct
Return: Calibri Size 10
Return: Calibri Size 10
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examination via ultrasound in order to not apply pressure on the tissue until rupture is ruled out.3
Corneal rust rings can arise hours after metallic foreign bodies become lodged in the cornea because of
oxidation of iron in the foreign body. Several methods for removing corneal rust rings exist. One procedure
typically done by ophthalmologists involves removing the ring at the same time as the foreign body via a
rotating burr.4 Another option is using a 25 gauge needle to remove the rust ring.4 Studies have shown that
the dental burr rotated by an electric drill is the safest, most efficient treatment and preferred over manual
extraction because it leads to quicker pain relief and allows for complete removal in a single treatment.5 An
alternative method involves delayed removal of the rust ring. This method is based on the idea that the iron
of the corneal rust ring will kill epithelial cells over 24-48 hours allowing deeper rings to rise closer to the
surface, thus allowing for easier removal.1
In this patient, the foreign body was removed in the emergency room by the ophthalmologist, and he was
given ofloxacin eyedrops to protect against secondary infection from the corneal abrasion. Three days later
he was followed up in the eye clinic and the corneal rust ring was removed using a diamond burr and 30-
gauge needle.