18 month old “Ned” presented with a squinty and weepy right eye. Examination revealed a 4mm long wood splinter embedded within the cornea (the glassy front of the eye). As the splinter was deep with the potential for rupture of the globe on removal, the client was offered referral locally for specialist surgery under an operating microscope to limit the chances of complications.
Ned’s owner was not in a financial position to take up this option after his visit to them, so returned for us to give it our best shot. Under general anaesthesia and head loupe magnification the splinter was carefully manoeuvred out and luckily no fluid leakage followed. With drug treatment to cover infection and inflammation, Ned recovered well, and the image attached shows Ned at a two week follow up with a feint scar that should clear completely over the next few weeks.