Are doctors (GP's) allowed to do this?

Question

I went to see a doctor for some irritation in my left eye. He used an orange dye with a blue light which wasn't too discomforting, but it made me see orange for a bit, made my eyes water and stained my face. Afterward he said wanted to see if there was anything lodged under my top eyelid that could be causing the irritation. He got out a small wooden stick which he placed over the top of my eyelid and tried to lift my eyelid over the stick so it would flip out. It was painful and I stopped him, then I just used my finger to lift it up and he looked underneath with a light and said nothing was there from what he could see. My eyelid still hurts now and I’m worried he permanently damaged it. He should have explained the procedure to me first rather than just saying he was going to take a look under the eyelid, but what is this procedure called and is it safe within a GP’s practice?

Answer 1

Yes, doctors sometimes flip the upper lid to see if there is anything stuck in it.  Perhaps he was a little too aggressive because it doesn't normally hurt.

Answer 2

It's called eversion of the upper lid and it exposes the tarsal sulcus where foreign bodies often imbed.

When I performed the procedure, I usually put a drop or two of a topical anesthetic in the eye to ease the discomfort.

I think the procedure is well within the competence of a family physician.