Having something in your eye can be unsettling, causing immediate irritation, excessive tearing, and discomfort. Even tiny foreign objects, like an eyelash or dust, can feel disproportionately large due to the eye’s high sensitivity. Understanding appropriate responses is important for this delicate organ.
Safe Home Removal Techniques
Before attempting any removal, thoroughly wash your hands to prevent introducing bacteria or contaminants into your eye. If you wear contact lenses, remove them, as the object might be stuck to the lens or cause further irritation.
Begin by blinking rapidly, as your eye’s natural tears can often flush out small particles. If blinking does not work, gentle flushing with clean, lukewarm water or saline solution can be effective. Use an eyewash cup, a clean drinking glass, or a gentle stream from a faucet, ensuring water flows from the inner corner of your eye outward. When flushing, hold your eyelids open to thoroughly irrigate the eye.
If the object is visible on the white part of your eye or under the lower eyelid, you can try to gently remove it. Pull down your lower eyelid while looking up to expose the inner surface. If visible, a moistened cotton swab or the corner of a clean, damp cloth can lightly touch and lift the particle away. For objects lodged under the upper eyelid, gently pull the upper eyelid out and over the lower eyelid, then roll your eye in different directions; this action can dislodge the object, allowing tears to flush it out.
When Professional Help is Essential
While many foreign objects can be safely removed at home, certain situations necessitate immediate medical attention. Seek professional help if the foreign object was propelled into your eye at high speed, such as from grinding metal or power tools, as this increases the risk of it becoming embedded. Similarly, if you suspect the object is sharp, like glass or a metal fragment, or appears to have pierced the eyeball, do not attempt removal yourself.
Consult a doctor if you experience persistent pain, redness, or the sensation that something is still in your eye after attempting home removal. Any changes in vision, such as blurriness, double vision, or loss of vision, warrant immediate medical evaluation. Bleeding from the eye, discharge, or sensitivity to light are also signs that professional care is needed.
If your eye was exposed to chemicals, flush the eye continuously with water for at least 15-20 minutes and then seek emergency care immediately, bringing the chemical container if possible.
Actions to Avoid
When something is in your eye, it is natural to want to rub it, but this action can worsen the situation. Rubbing your eye, especially with a foreign object present, can scratch the cornea, leading to painful abrasions. These abrasions can increase your risk of infection and may require medical treatment.
Avoid using your fingers or unwashed hands to touch your eye directly, as this can introduce bacteria and lead to an eye infection like conjunctivitis. Never attempt to remove an object embedded in your eye or that has pierced the eyeball, as doing so can cause further, potentially permanent damage. Refrain from using sharp instruments like tweezers or anything pointed near your eye to extract the object. Delaying professional medical help when red flag symptoms are present can also lead to complications and long-term vision problems.