Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
Iris Fixation via External Pentagram Suturing
Published on: May 5, 2022
Plastic Corneal Foreign Body Removal From a 2-Month-Old Infant: A Case Report
Shichun Chen1, Ning Zhang1, Huangpei Xu1
1Department of Eye & ENT, Jinjiang Ophthalmology Center, Jinjiang Second Hospital (Anhai Hospital), Jinjiang, Fujian, China.
Insights
Infantile corneal foreign bodies (CFBs) are rare and can be asymptomatic. This case report details a successful, low-risk method for removing a plastic CFB from an infant
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
Background:
- Infantile corneal foreign bodies (CFBs) are uncommon and often present diagnostic and treatment challenges.
- Infants may not exhibit symptoms, leading to delayed diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a case of a successfully removed plastic corneal foreign body in a young infant.
- To propose a viable, low-risk office-based approach for CFB removal in infants.
Main Methods:
- A 2-month-old infant with an asymptomatic corneal foreign body was examined.
- A novel technique involving proparacaine hydrochloride drops and a needle-tipped applicator was used for removal, avoiding medical sedation.
Main Results:
- A small, plastic corneal foreign body was successfully removed from a 2-month-old infant.
- The described method facilitated removal without sedation, despite initial difficulties.
Conclusions:
- Corneal foreign bodies in infants can be asymptomatic and easily overlooked.
- A modified needle-tipped applicator technique offers a safe and effective method for removing corneal foreign bodies in infants with limited cooperation.
Abstract:
BACKGROUND Infantile corneal foreign bodies (CFBs) are rare and frequently result in delayed diagnoses and treatment challenges. This report describes a case of a very young infant with a small plastic CFB that was successfully removed. CASE REPORT A 2-month-old boy was observed to have a "small dot" foreign body on his left cornea by his parents. No crying response to the CFB or other symptoms had ever been identified. Slit lamp examination revealed the presence of a small, oval, plastic foreign body in the corneal epithelial layer. This CFB was determined to be an ornament affixed to the dress that the babysitter was wearing at the time. For CFB removal, medical sedation was rejected by the infant's guardian. The initial attempt to flush the CFB out with saline or extract the CFB using a cotton-tipped applicator alone proved unsuccessful. Subsequent release of the CFB from the cornea was facilitated by the addition of proparacaine hydrochloride drops to the conjunctival sac and the use of a 1-mL needle, which was then adhered to the cotton-tipped applicator, thereby enabling its removal. CONCLUSIONS CFBs in young infants may not manifest any symptoms and thus can be easily ignored. The removal of plastic CFBs in those young infants who exhibit limited communication and cooperation abilities remains a challenging procedure. This report proposes a viable and low-risk, office-based approach to address the issue of CFB removal in infants.
