The sensation of something in your eye, often described as a foreign body sensation, is a common experience. It can range from mild irritation to significant discomfort. While frequently benign, this sensation can sometimes indicate an underlying condition that may require attention.
Everyday Causes of the Sensation
A frequent reason for this sensation is the presence of a foreign body. This can include small particles such as dust, an eyelash, or a speck of dirt. The eye’s highly sensitive cornea, the clear outer layer, registers even minuscule particles, leading to irritation and a reflex to clear the object.
Dry eye syndrome is another common cause, where the eyes do not produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly. This lack of lubrication can result in a gritty, scratchy, or sandy feeling. Dry eye can also lead to symptoms like burning, stinging, redness, and blurry vision.
Allergies, specifically allergic conjunctivitis, can also induce a foreign body sensation. Exposure to allergens like pollen, dust mites, or pet dander causes inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane lining the eyelid and covering the white of the eye. This inflammation often presents with itching, redness, watery discharge, and a gritty feeling.
Contact lens wear can contribute to this sensation, particularly with overuse, improper fitting, or accumulation of deposits. Micro-abrasions or dryness caused by prolonged contact lens wear can mimic a foreign object sensation. Even a small tear or chip in a contact lens can cause discomfort.
Eye strain, often from prolonged digital screen use or reading, can also manifest as discomfort, including a foreign body sensation. Additionally, inflammation of the eyelids, known as blepharitis, can cause debris to accumulate near the eyelashes, leading to irritation and a gritty feeling.
Immediate Steps and When to Seek Help
For a foreign body sensation, gentle actions can often provide relief. The eye’s natural defense mechanisms, such as blinking and increased tear production, frequently help dislodge small particles. Blinking repeatedly can encourage tears to flush out minor irritants.
If blinking is insufficient, gently flushing the eye with clean, lukewarm water or a sterile saline solution can be effective. This can be done using an eyewash cup, a clean glass, or a gentle stream of water in a shower. Tilt your head so water flows from the inner corner to the outer, preventing debris from entering the other eye.
Avoid rubbing the eye, as this can scratch the cornea or push a foreign object deeper, worsening irritation or causing damage. Similarly, do not use sharp objects like tweezers or cotton swabs directly on the eyeball to remove a particle. If you wear contact lenses, remove them before flushing, as a foreign body can get trapped underneath.
Seek immediate medical attention if the sensation persists after flushing, or if you experience severe pain, vision changes, extreme redness, discharge, or light sensitivity. These symptoms could indicate a serious issue such as a corneal abrasion, infection, or a deeply embedded object. If a chemical has splashed into your eye, flush it for at least 15 minutes and seek emergency care promptly.
Clinical Evaluation and Care
A healthcare professional will typically begin evaluation by checking visual acuity and taking a detailed symptom history. Anesthetic eye drops may be administered to numb the surface, allowing for a comfortable and comprehensive examination.
A common diagnostic tool is the slit-lamp examination, which uses a specialized microscope with a bright light to magnify the eye’s structures. This allows the doctor to precisely locate foreign bodies, assess the extent of corneal abrasions, or identify other abnormalities on the eye’s surface or within its layers.
Fluorescein staining is often performed. A small amount of orange dye is applied to the eye via a sterile strip. When illuminated with a cobalt-blue light, damaged or irregular areas on the cornea absorb the dye and glow green, making abrasions, ulcers, or foreign bodies more visible.
Treatment approaches vary based on diagnosis. If a foreign body is present, it may be gently removed using a sterile cotton swab, a specialized instrument, or by flushing. For corneal abrasions, antibiotic eye drops or ointments may be prescribed to prevent infection and promote healing. Conditions like dry eye or allergic conjunctivitis are managed with specific eye drops, such as lubricating drops for dryness or antihistamine drops for allergies. In some cases, a patch may be applied to allow the eye to rest and heal.