Unfortunately while the emergency room at Bascom Palmer is open 24/7, the OR does not have an in-house team and to call everyone in would take several hours. The metal was too deep to be retrieved from an anterior approach and so the decision was made to remove it surgically. He presented to the ER at 1AM with a metal foreign body approximately 0.5 mm in all dimensions that had penetrated his cornea full-thickness but was still partly embedded in his posterior cornea. While working with his power tools, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his right eye that did not resolve after blinking, rubbing, or using copious Visine drops. It is unclear as to the exact motivating factors which led him to perform these chores in the middle of a weekend night, but what was certain was that he was not wearing eye protection. The first patient was a 24 year old male who had decided to do some housework at midnight. My favorite cases, however, were from local young men who unfortunately had poor judgment. Its geographic location enables many patients to come to the ER literally moments after passing immigrations, some of whom have not had access to ophthalmic care for decades. Due to its reputation and location in a densely populated area, there can easily be over a hundred visits every day. About AuthorBascom Palmer Eye Institute emergency is a unique experience for any resident, fellow, or even attending physician to experience.

Bascom palmer er