- In the late 2000s, he suffered a painful “penetrating injury” while gardening
A man undergoing a routine eye check was found to have a splinter lurking in his cornea – and doctors say it had been there for 15 years.
In the late 2000s, he suffered a painful “penetrating injury” while gardening, but he thought nothing of it as his pain faded over time.
Medics wanted to check his eyes because of his diabetes, which can lead to vision loss if problems aren't caught early.
Tests showed that there was nothing directly wrong with his eyes.
A man undergoing a routine eye check was found to have a splinter lurking in his cornea – and doctors say it had been there for 15 years. The photo shows the splinter upon closer inspection
However, it was noted that he had a 'foreign body' running through his cornea, the clear dome-shaped, outermost layer.
Closer inspection revealed that the object was a 3mm wooden splinter.
Ophthalmologists from Wayne State University in Detroit and Harvard Medical School shared photos of it BMJ Case Reports.
The unidentified man, in his 30s, is believed to have lived in Boston, Massachusetts.
Experts called the case 'remarkable' in the magazine.
The team said: 'Most cases are detected and treated immediately after injury as they often cause significant pain, redness and tearing and serve as a focus of infection.
'However, in some cases the foreign body may be asymptomatic and go unnoticed for an extended period of time.'
Medics have not confirmed whether they removed the splinter.
Extracting foreign bodies buried in the eye can be extremely difficult due to their delicate location.
The man was told to continue with normal life and to return if he experienced pain, redness or vision problems.
They warned that the splinter could have perforated his cornea, a horrific injury that could have left him blind.
Discussing his original gardening injury, the team said: 'The patient had a history of a penetrating eye injury sustained while gardening 15 years ago.
'At the time of the injury, the patient reported experiencing immediate pain and discomfort, but decided not to seek medical attention as the symptoms appeared to resolve over time.
'No further ophthalmological evaluation or treatment was performed and the patient's vision appeared stable over the years.'