Corneal ulcer caused by a wooden foreign body in the upper eyelid 6 months after minor injury.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of a wooden foreign body in the upper eyelid that remained asymptomatic for 6 months.

CASE REPORT: 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.

CONCLUSION

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.