Anxiety - Something In My Eye!

Folks who get something in their eye are among the most panicky patients around. There are two justifiable reasons for such anxiety. First, stimulated sensory nerves on the eyeball surface immediately signal the presence of foreign particles - it's a very important protective mechanism. We all know that feeling, 'Something's in my eye!'

Making the discomfort far worse is the apprehension that the foreign particle will migrate behind the eyeball. 'It might become trapped back there forever!'

Do the math: Eye discomfort + Anxiety = Panic.

You won't need a calculator to solve this problem. Most debris can be washed away with some fresh water. If it persists seek emergency care to have the offending particle removed.

A little extra knowledge can eliminate anxiety. The surface of the eye is coated by moist conjunctiva. It is a closed system that does not go behind the eye. The termination of the space between eyelid and eyeball is called the conjunctival cul de sac.

Misplaced contact lenses and foreign particles are stopped where the conjunctiva folds back on itself, much like a car that reaches a dead end in a residential cul de sac.

Don't worry, those small specks and dislodged contacts aren't going very far.

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