Eye Foreign Body Injuries: Epidemiology, Clinical Challenges, and Protective Interventions

Eye foreign body injuries are among the most common ophthalmic emergencies and remain a significant cause of preventable visual morbidity worldwide. These injuries occur when external materials such as metal fragments, glass, dust, wood, or plant matter come into contact with or penetrate the ocular structures. While superficial foreign bodies often cause minor discomfort and can be managed effectively, deeper or intraocular foreign bodies may lead to severe complications, including corneal scarring, infection, retinal detachment, endophthalmitis, and permanent visual loss. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of ocular foreign body injuries, focusing on their classification, epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, management strategies, complications, and preventive interventions. Foreign bodies are classified based on anatomical location, composition, and mechanism of injury, with occupational exposure being a major risk factor, particularly among young adult males working in construction, welding, and industrial settings. Early diagnosis through detailed patient history, slit-lamp examination, fluorescein staining, and advanced imaging techniques such as CT and ultrasonography plays a crucial role in preventing vision-threatening complications. Management depends on the type, location, and severity of injury, ranging from simple surface removal to urgent surgical intervention for intraocular cases. Preventive strategies, including protective eyewear, workplace safety measures, and public awareness programs, remain essential in reducing the burden of ocular foreign body injuries. Timely intervention and multidisciplinary care are key to improving visual outcomes and preserving ocular health.