Should my eye hurt this much ?

[IJL]

When it comes to foreign bodies in eyes its the tools that are used to examine the eye that are important, if you are seen at your surgery the best they are likely to have is an ophthalmoscope which is actually for looking at the retina not the surface of the eye.  If you are seen in A&E you are more likely (but not certain) to be examined with a slit lamp, this is essentially a microscope.  If you cant see a foreign body with the slit lamp its because its not there, using anything else its hard to be certain. Often foreign bodies leave a area of damage to the cornea that can leave the sensation of something still being there.

In most cases when a clinician sees a patient they should say I think this is x, it should have settled by y, if it doesn't see me or whoever again. 

[Aunt Maud]

I'm off down the doctors at lunchtime. Hopefully I'll get to see the nurse, as the doctor is a bit hammer and chisel.

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

Good luck, don't forget your chainsaw helmet.

They are for wimps.  This was me before I just put the kettle on:

[Aunt Maud]

I had the orange dye, UV light, magnifier and two proper doctors. Nothing in there, but badly scratched in the corner.

[menthel]

A bad abrasion can hurt like hell and still feel like there is something in there, always best to be checked though. When I worked in A&E it was always nice to get someone with an eye problem that needed the slit lamp- one of the few places with some peace and quiet in the department!

[hellymedic]

I have removed a 3cm (yeah, that's over an INCH, I kid you not!) piece of grass from inside the eyelid of somebody who had been seen by AN Other medic, elsewhere.

Some foreign bodies are not visible on the surface of the eye because they are trapped under the eyelid.

The scratching caused is easily detectable with fluoroscein and a blue light. Simples if you have the kit...

A slit lamp microscope is a lovely piece of equipment. If you don't have access to this, at least get a friend with a good magnifier to look at your eye.

And check inside the eyelids.

But seriously, get yourself seen by someone who knows.

[Aunt Maud]

They both did have a really good look for about 20 mins under the lid and all over and was a lot more thorough than the doctor at A&E, who to his credit did turn the lid inside out, but I haven't been put in a slit lamp yet.

He's given me 2 days for it to improve, but if it feels the same tomorrow I'll go and see an eye specialist.

[Veloman]

They both did have a really good look for about 20 mins under the lid and all over and was a lot more thorough than the doctor at A&E, who to his credit did turn the lid inside out, but I haven't been put in a slit lamp yet.

He's given me 2 days for it to improve, but if it feels the same tomorrow I'll go and see an eye specialist.

Glad you went and far better to be under the watchful eye (pun intended!) of the medical staff rather than braving it out.

[barakta]

Glad it has been checked, better safe than sorry. Eyes are precious.

[Aunt Maud]

Thanks for the concern. It's starting to feel a little better, although it still feels rough when I look in the wrong direction.

I'll have to learn how to rive lath instead of sawing it, as I've still got a few kilometres to do.

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

It'll be stronger for it.  The timber I mean.

None of the roof timbers of my barn show any signs of being sawn whatsoever.

[Aunt Maud]

I might go and see what the council forest lady has. She gave me a really good deal on some oak last time £30/cubic meter by the side of the road, bargain.

My eye has made a dramatic recovery today and I've been putting all my new manifolds together for the new central heating system. Another new pump goes in tomorrow and we should have a heated bedroom or two by the end of the day.

Then I'm off for digging op the kitchen floor fun at mums for a week whilst they are away on hollibobs.

No rest for the unemployed.