Physical or
chemical injuries of the
eye can be a serious threat to
vision if not treated appropriately and in a timely fashion. The most obvious presentation of ocular (eye) injuries is
redness and
pain of the affected eyes. This is not, however, universally true, as tiny
metallic projectiles may cause neither symptom. Tiny metallic projectiles should be suspected when a patient reports
metal on metal contact, such as with hammering a metal surface. Intraocular foreign bodies do not cause pain because of the lack of
nerve endings in the
vitreous humour and
retina that can transmit pain sensations. As such, general or
emergency room doctors should refer cases involving the
posterior segment of the eye or intraocular foreign bodies to an
ophthalmologist. Ideally, ointment would not be used when referring to an ophthalmologist, since it diminishes the ability to carry out a thorough
eye examination.