Foreign body in the eye of a patient with developmental delay

Foreign body in the eye is a relatively common emergency department (ED) chief complaint which does not usually lead to ophthalmologic intervention. We report a case of a 35-year-old male with a history of developmental delay who presented to our ED for evaluation of ocular foreign body. His reported foreign body was removed, and subsequently identified as an Ahmed Valve, a device used in the management of glaucoma. After removal in the ED, an exam under anesthesia was performed by ophthalmology the next morning with injection of antibiotics. Even patient presentations for seemingly simple, straightforward chief complaints deserve critical appraisal by emergency clinicians. When suspicions are raised or there is any doubt, specialty consultation should be obtained to ensure patients receive appropriate care and necessary follow up. This is especially true when history and exam are limited by other factors such as developmental delay, incomplete medical history, or altered mental status.