Conjunctival Foreign Body a Rare Presentation

Aim: Detection of subconjunctival or intra orbital wooden foreign bodies and its retrieval is important, because of severe blinding complications secondary to infection can occur. We describe, a case of post traumatic subconjunctival wooden foreign bodies retained in conjunctival culde-sac of upper fornix, presenting as conjunctival granuloma.

Case Report: A 50 year male patient was accidentally hit by a wooden stick on the right eye 25 days ago, while he was working in the paddy field. On examination, a granulomatous growth was present on the temporal side of the bulbar conjunctiva. Two wooden foreign bodies were removed from the conjunctival granulomatous mass.

Discussion: The superficial foreign bodies of the conjunctiva are common and the ocular protective mechanisms normally extrude superficial foreign bodies. The clinical course of orbital foreign bodies depends upon their composition. The organic foreign bodies like wood if left untreated results in sight threatening complications.

In our case, wooden foreign bodies penetrated subconjunctivally into the upper fornix and presented as conjunctival granuloma. Under topical anaesthesia (xylocaine 4%) two wooden foreign bodies were removed from conjunctival granuloma. The patient recovered uneventfully with antibiotic drops and oral analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Conclusion: In patients presenting with post traumatic conjunctival granuloma, we should strongly suspect a subconjunctival retained foreign body before initiating treatment.