A metal sliver from grinding, grit blown in on a windy afternoon, a sliver caught under the lid during yard work - and the eye won't stop watering. Don't rub it and hope it clears. Riverside Family Eye Care is an optometry practice in Fort Myers, and our optometrists can numb the eye, look under magnification to see exactly what is there, and take the object out carefully.
Request Appointment or call 239-500-2020.
Do not rub it, and do not wait it out
It usually starts the same way. A welder catches a hot metal sliver. A Saturday of grinding or mowing kicks a fleck up under the lid. A gusty day drives grit straight into the eye. And the instinct is always the same: rub it, blink hard, splash some water at the sink, and wait for it to work its way out.
That instinct is what does the damage. Rubbing can grind an embedded fleck deeper and scratch the cornea. A piece of metal left sitting can start a rust ring within a day. And a general ER, while it can help, often means a long wait to be seen by someone who does not work with eyes all day.
That is the gap we close. Riverside Family Eye Care is here for Fort Myers families, adults, and local tradespeople who want thorough, personal eye care - doctors who take the time to do it right, not a rushed guess and not hours in a waiting room built for everything except eyes.
Three things you get when you call
Not a rushed yank and not an all-day wait. You get seen as soon as we can, the object taken out comfortably, and the eye checked for damage before you go.
Get seen as soon as we can.
When something is in your eye, waiting days for an opening is not an option. Call us and we will see you as soon as we can.
Have it removed comfortably.
A numbing drop goes in first, so the eye is settled before anything happens. Then our optometrists look under magnification to see exactly what is there and where it sits, and remove it carefully - not by feel, and not in a hurry.
Know the eye is checked for damage.
Getting the object out is only half the job. Our optometrists check the eye afterward for a scratch on the cornea, a rust stain, or the early signs of infection, then send you home with clear aftercare and a follow-up if the eye needs another look. That extra minute is what a quick yank misses.
What we actually do, step by step
Here is what a foreign-body visit includes, step by step:
- A numbing drop first, so the eye is comfortable for both the exam and the removal.
- A magnified look to locate the object and judge how deep it sits.
- Careful removal of the fleck of metal, grit, or debris.
- A rust-ring check, and removal of the ring when the object is metal, since even a small speck can leave a stain on the cornea.
- A dye stain that lights up any scratch on the surface underneath, so nothing gets missed.
- Antibiotic drops and written aftercare where they are needed, so the eye heals cleanly.
Foreign-body removal is one of the urgent eye problems we handle right here, alongside red eye, pink eye, and sudden flashes or floaters. It is real eye care with the right tools and the time to use them, not a quick pass with a cotton swab.
Why the ER wait and the chain counter do not fit a hurt eye
The usual options do not fit a hurt eye. A retail optical counter or a rushed big-box chain can sell you glasses but cannot help with something stuck in your eye. A general ER can help, but often after a long wait, from someone who does not spend their days looking at corneas. Here, we see you as soon as we can, take the object out, check the eye for a scratch or a rust stain, and send you home with clear aftercare.
We will also be straight about the limits. If it is a deep or penetrating injury - something that has gone into the eye rather than resting on the surface - that needs a surgeon, and we will refer you and help coordinate the right care quickly. We will not pretend every injury belongs here. But most surface foreign bodies are exactly what we take care of.
Honest answers before you come in
Should I go to the ER instead?
For most surface foreign bodies - a fleck of metal, grit, or debris sitting on the eye - we can remove it comfortably. Save the ER for a deep or penetrating injury, a chemical splash, sudden vision loss, or anything happening after our office hours. If what you have needs a surgeon, we will refer you and coordinate that care rather than attempt it here.
Is it covered by insurance?
An eye injury is often medically billable, so it usually runs through your medical plan rather than a vision plan. Coverage depends on your specific plan, so give us a call and we will help you check before you come in. You can also see the plans we accept on our Insurance page.
Can I just rinse it out at home?
You can flush the eye gently with clean water or saline, and that is worth trying for loose grit. What you should not do is rub it - that can push an embedded fleck deeper and scratch the surface. And a piece of metal needs to come out properly, because left in place it can rust and stain the cornea. If a gentle flush does not clear it, do not wait it out - call us.
Not sure what you are dealing with? Start here
This is part of our urgent eye care. If you are not certain what you are dealing with, start with the hub or jump to the symptom that fits.
- Emergency Eye Care - the full picture of the urgent eye problems we treat.
- Red Eye Treatment - for an eye that is red, painful, or irritated.
- Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) - for redness, discharge, and itching that may be an infection.
- Flashes & Floaters - for sudden flashes, floaters, or a change in your vision.
Let's get it out
If something is in your eye right now, the fastest thing you can do is call. We will see you as soon as we can, numb the eye, and take the object out carefully. An eye injury is usually billable through your medical plan; coverage varies, so call and we will walk you through it. Our office is open Monday and Tuesday 9-5, Wednesday 9-6, Thursday 11-7, and Friday 8-12 and 1-4 (closed Saturday and Sunday).
Riverside Family Eye Care, 11841 Palm Beach Blvd, Unit 117, Fort Myers, FL 33905 (Verandah Publix Plaza, at Palm Beach Blvd and 31). Hours, map & directions
Request Appointment or call 239-500-2020.