The sensation of feeling like something is in your eye is an uncomfortable experience. It can range from a mild irritation to intense discomfort that disrupts daily activities. This feeling often triggers an immediate urge to relieve the perceived presence. Whether a fleeting tickle or persistent scratchiness, the eye’s sensitivity ensures even small disturbances feel significant.
Common Reasons for the Sensation
The feeling of a foreign object in the eye often stems from small particles. Everyday irritants like dust, sand, or a stray eyelash can enter the eye and lodge on its surface or beneath an eyelid, causing discomfort. Makeup particles, particularly from mascara or eyeliner, can also flake off and cause similar sensations. These foreign bodies disrupt the smooth movement of the eyelid over the eye’s delicate surface, creating a scratching or gritty feeling.
However, the sensation is not always caused by a visible object; conditions like dry eye syndrome can mimic this feeling. When eyes do not produce enough tears or tears evaporate too quickly, the eye’s surface lacks proper lubrication, leading to friction with each blink. This dryness can cause a scratchy or gritty sensation, similar to having sand in the eye. Eye strain, often from prolonged screen use, can also contribute, as can allergic reactions that cause inflammation of the conjunctiva, the transparent layer covering the white part of the eye. Overworn contact lenses or environmental factors like wind and smoke may also lead to this feeling.
Immediate Steps to Take
When you first feel something in your eye, resist the urge to rub it, as this can further irritate the eye or scratch the cornea. Instead, begin by blinking repeatedly to encourage natural tear production. Tears can often help dislodge and flush out small, superficial particles from the eye’s surface. If blinking alone does not provide relief, carefully wash your hands with soap and water before attempting further steps.
Next, try flushing the eye with clean, lukewarm water or a sterile saline solution. A gentle stream of water can be directed over the affected eye while holding the eyelid open, or you can use an eyecup or a small, clean drinking glass to immerse the eye and blink. If you wear contact lenses, it is important to remove them before or during flushing, as a foreign body might be stuck to the underside of the lens. After flushing, gently dry the skin around the eye with a clean towel.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While many eye irritations resolve with home care, certain signs indicate professional medical attention is needed. If the sensation persists for more than 24 hours after attempting home remedies, or if discomfort worsens, consult an eye doctor. Persistent pain, especially severe pain, or a sudden change in vision like blurriness or difficulty seeing, warrants immediate evaluation.
Other concerning symptoms include increased sensitivity to light (photophobia), redness that worsens or does not improve, or any discharge from the eye, particularly if it is thick, green, or yellow. A visible foreign object embedded in the eye, or any object that appears to be sticking out, should not be self-removed; immediate medical help should be sought. If you suspect an eye infection, or experience swelling in or around your eye, a healthcare provider should be contacted promptly to prevent long-term damage or vision loss.