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Could a foreign object enter completely into any part of the eye?

I sawed some metal; there was metal dust everywhere. I wore goggles, but later it felt like something was in there. It hurt the next day. After another day an ophthalmologist found no foreign bodies and no corneal abrasion, but conjunctivitis, and she couldn't say why. She said 7 days of Xanternet drops 3x/day. Today is day 7. It hurts a lot. There is a bump on my inner lower eyelid, that to me looks like healing skin or a scratch. Visible to the naked eye.
Yesterday ophthalmologist #2 said there's no object in my eye. I asked about the bump on my inner lower eyelid, if it might not be from a splinter of metal (I had one in my finger, as well, that came out after a few days). She denied being able to see any bump and assured me there is no foreign object there, and that she is a trained doctor, blah blah. She said to use Tobradex for 5-7 days and see how it goes.

Online I read that Tobradex should only be used for bacterial infections; no one has done any sort of test nor told me that this could be a bacterial infection vs. any other cause. I have no secretions but normal tears. My eye hurts all over every day, and sometimes that little bump irritates it, sometimes not.
Is it possible for some foreign body to have entered under the skin of my inner eyelid? No doctor is willing to consider this possibility, but also no doctor has been able to make my eye hurt less in the last 10 days. So question 1: Is it possible - yes or no?
2. Should I follow her advice and take this antibiotic that specifically says not to take it if it's a viral infection? Xanternet, which I've just been taking for 7 days, also contains antibiotics. Doctors in this country give out antibiotics like candy, btw.
3. Will any ophthalmologist be willing to send me for X-rays? I have seen X-rays online of foreign bodies in eyes, but these doctors all just say they don't see anything and to go home. Would an X-ray make any sense? This isn't me thinking something may have gone in; this is me doing a high-risk activity that regularly causes foreign objects to enter people's eyes and eyelids, feeling like something entered, and suddenly having an apparent eye infection. Is it a coincidence that I have conjunctivitis for a week?

Please don't just tell me to see my doctor. I have seen 2 who have done nothing. I *will* see another soon, but I'd like to be armed with information and know what to expect, that's what I'm hoping to find here!

Thank you!!
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177275 tn?1511755244
So if you insist on yes/no   Yes it is possible for foreign objects to penetrate the eyelid or eyeball. Now back to reality.  In the circumstance you describe sawing metal (mechanical or hand saw) With safety goggles its extremely unlikely and the overwhelming number of eye mds would not get an xray initially. However with the persistence of irritation and your fretting it might be worth it to you and your MDs.  I cannot tell you whether to take Tobradex as I did not examine your eye.  So I think that answers all 3 questions. You may be ready for ophthalmologist #3.
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2 Comments
Thank you.
How about with swimming goggles, not safety goggles? The kind that only cover the eye, no vents, and which steamed up and I removed them between sawing attempts to wipe them off? I'm not proud of it, but it happened. I will never do that again. Is an object entering a sweaty eye after goggles are removed and eyes wiped that unlikely? That's not a rhetorical question. :) To me it seems pretty likely, but I'd be happy to hear that it's not.
An x-ray is most likely not worth it to my doctor. They will conclude it's allergies, though this has never happened in 41 years of allergies.
I guess I'm trying to determine if that hypothetical thing that may have penetrated could be invisible to an ophthalmologist with modern equipment after a week or so.
I am sure it's quite annoying for patients who've never seen anything like this to tell their doctors their opinions, but it's beyond frustrating for doctors to simply dismiss information from patients.

4. Could a duct be blocked by such a body and lead to such symptoms?
Given the way your eye is protected deep penetration under skin, under surface of eye, in tear duct highly unlikely. Our practice has a large industrial base and we see lots of injuries and complaints of something in the eye. Something some doctors do is forget to flip the upper lid and look under the upper lid. I have had patients come in to see me for a second or third opinion saying it feels like something in eye but previous doctor or two not find. I ask if lid flipped and they say no then I flip and find debris under lid.  If you go back ask them to flip upper lid and look under it
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177275 tn?1511755244
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