If a penetrating eye injury is suspected, you should perform a...

• A. Rapid field test of visual acuity
• B. Full ophthalmologic exam in field
• C. CT scan
• D. Irrigate eye immediately

Answer: (A)

When a penetrating eye injury is suspected, the first priority is to quickly establish the patient’s visual function to gauge severity and guide urgent care decisions. A rapid field test of visual acuity does exactly this: it is quick, noninvasive, and can be done with minimal equipment in the field, providing a baseline that helps determine how urgently to evacuate and what protective measures to apply.

Other approaches described are not appropriate as immediate field actions. A full ophthalmologic exam in the field isn’t practical and could delay care or risk further injury without the right tools. Imaging like a CT scan requires hospital-based resources and transport, not a first-field maneuver. Irrigating the eye right away is generally not performed for a suspected penetrating injury, since manipulating the eye or flushing it can worsen damage or drive debris into deeper structures—irrigation is reserved for chemical exposures or as directed by medical control.