A hair in the eye is a common irritant causing immediate discomfort, characterized by a gritty sensation and increased tearing. This foreign object can quickly scratch the delicate corneal surface if not removed carefully. Immediate action is necessary to prevent a minor issue from turning into a serious injury or infection. The primary goal is always to dislodge the hair without damaging the eye’s protective outer layer.
Initial Steps for Eye Safety
The first step before touching your eye is to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds. Clean hands minimize the risk of introducing bacteria or other pathogens that could lead to an infection like conjunctivitis. Next, find a well-lit area and use a clean mirror to locate the hair, noting its position on the white part of the eye (sclera) or under the eyelid.
The most important instruction is to resist the impulse to rub your eye. Rubbing is dangerous because the hair acts like sandpaper, potentially causing a corneal abrasion—a painful scratch on the eye’s surface. Rubbing can also push the hair deeper or transfer germs from your hands, increasing the risk of inflammation and infection.
Simple Methods for Hair Removal
The safest and most recommended initial method for removing a hair is by flushing the eye with a clean fluid. You should use lukewarm, clean water, or ideally, a sterile saline solution if one is readily available. Tilt your head so that the affected eye is lower than the other, which allows the water to run away from the nose and prevent contamination of the other eye.
While holding your eyelid open, allow a gentle stream of fluid to pour over the eye’s surface for several seconds. This process mimics the eye’s natural tearing mechanism, which is designed to wash away foreign objects. You can use a clean, small drinking glass placed around the eye socket or stand in the shower and aim a gentle stream of water onto your forehead over the eye.
If flushing does not dislodge the hair, a secondary method involves using a clean, soft implement. With clean hands, gently pull the lower eyelid down while looking up, or pull the upper eyelid up while looking down, to check for the hair. If you can see the hair on the white of the eye or inside the eyelid, you can attempt to gently lift it away.
Use the corner of a clean, damp tissue, washcloth, or wet cotton swab to softly dab at the hair. The moisture helps the hair adhere to the material, allowing it to be lifted off without scraping the eye surface. Always dab or wipe gently toward the outer corner of the eye, avoiding the central cornea. Stop immediately if you feel significant pain.
Knowing When to Seek Medical Attention
After successfully removing the hair, mild irritation may persist for a few hours, often feeling like the object is still present. However, you must seek professional medical attention if specific symptoms appear or continue. Persistent or worsening pain, especially pain that lasts more than 24 hours, is a sign that a professional examination is required.
Other symptoms that necessitate a visit to an optometrist, ophthalmologist, or emergency room include any significant change in vision, such as blurring or decreased clarity. You should also seek care if you notice pus-like discharge, increased sensitivity to light (photophobia), or if the eye remains noticeably red or inflamed. These signs can indicate a significant corneal abrasion, a developing infection, or the possibility that a fragment of the hair or another object is still lodged in the eye.