Corneal ulcer caused by a wooden foreign body in the upper eyelid 6 months after minor injury.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of a wooden foreign body in the upper eyelid that remained asymptomatic for 6 months.


METHODS
A 9-year-old boy was presented with moderate upper lid swelling. Medical history was positive for trauma with a wooden stick 6 months ago. At first, the condition resolved under local antibiotic treatment. Three weeks later, the inflammation recurred and a corneal ulcer developed. Examination under general anesthesia revealed a wooden foreign body which had remained in the upper eyelid since the first injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Organic foreign bodies in the eyelid can remain asymptomatic for a long period of time and can play a role in periocular inflammation. In case of doubt, children and other less cooperative patients should be examined under general anesthesia.
Baumeister
Martin
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Kuhli-Hattenbach
Claudia
C
Luchtenberg
Marc
M
D002648:Child; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000209:etiology*; D005129:Eye Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005143:Eyelids / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014934:Wood