The foreign body may be lifted out by the point of the instrument. A broad spectrum antibiotic ointment should be instilled and the eye patched for 24 hours. Topical antibiotic drops should be applied for three to five days. A small rust ring will absorb over a period of days. Most abrasions and foreign body sites will heal with no further problems.
Treatment is used to prevent the rare case of infection leading to a corneal ulcer.
The flight surgeon can confidently close most lacerations involving all but the margin of the lid. If the laceration involves the lid margin, and the services of an ophthalmologist are available, the eye should be patched and the patient referred to the ophthalmologist. If the flight surgeon has to do the primary repair, the edges should be approximated as closely as possible and small sutures used. Due to the good vascular supply and the elasticity of the lids, lacerations heal quickly. The sutures should be removed on the fourth to fifth postoperative day.