Inspect the under side of the lid for a foreign body and scrape the lid with a cotton applicator. To check for a corneal abrasion, place a drop of fluorescein in the eye and examine it with a Woods lamp. An abrasion or foreign body will stain. Small abrasions can be treated by the pediatrician with the instillation of antibiotic drops or ointment and patching. Small children may not tolerate the patch and it is not essential.
Some patients feel better with the placement of the patch.
The eye should be rechecked the next day. Don't forget pain relief for the patient. After trauma to the fingertip, a subungal hematoma may develop. If a fracture or nail bed injury is suspected, referral to a specialist is recommended. If the pressure in the space increases, the pain may be severe and necessitate evacuation of the blood.