A 27-year-old male presents with a red, painful eye and decreased vision following an explosion at work. On examination, there is a visible foreign body impaling the cornea and iris. What should be the course of action?
This patient has a penetrating eye injury, an ophthalmic emergency. The foreign body should not be removed outside of the operating theatre as this may cause further damage or loss of intraocular contents. Broad-spectrum systemic antibiotics should be initiated to prevent endophthalmitis. Urgent referral to an ophthalmologist is necessary for surgical management.