What To Do if a Foreign Object Enters Your Eye

If you suspect that you have a foreign object in your eye, such as a dust particle or piece of dirt, resist the urge to rub. Rubbing your eyelid can drag the foreign body across your cornea, the clear covering that protects the iris and pupil. The cornea is very sensitive, and a scratch can cause severe pain. What’s more, vigorous rubbing can embed a foreign particle into the cornea or sclera, the white portion of the eye, and create further complications that require medical attention.

When you feel something in your eye, it’s important to initiate treatment promptly to avoid infection and the possibility of damaged vision. Here’s what to do:

• Wash your hands thoroughly.
• Do not rub or place any pressure on your eye.
• Do not use any instruments, such as cotton swabs, tweezers, and the like, on the surface of your eye.
• If the foreign object consists of fine particles, such as sand, gently wipe the skin around your eye with a warm washcloth.
• Blink quickly, which might dislodge the object.
• Pull your upper eyelid down and over your lower lid, and allow it to slide back.
• Irrigate your eye with artificial tears or saline solution, or use an eyecup.
• Ask someone to examine the affected eye under a bright light to locate the object and determine whether it might be easily removed. Look up while pulling your lower eyelid down, and then look down while pulling the upper eyelid up.
• If the object is under your upper eyelid, immerse the side of your face with the affected eye in a flat container of water. While under water, open and close your eye several times to attempt o flush out the object.

If none of the above homecare approaches are successful in dislodging the object from your eye, or if your vision is blurred or your eye is painful, you should seek medical attention right away. Additionally, if a corrosive chemical, such as acid or lye, gets into your eye, you should see a doctor even after flushing your eye with water.

For further information, or if there’s something in your eye and you’d like to see a physician, please feel free to contact or visit the South Tampa Immediate Care walk-in clinic.