Getting something in your eye can go from mildly irritating to seriously painful in seconds. Whether it’s dust, pet hair, sand, or a stray chemical splash, your eyes react fast by watering, stinging, and making it hard to think about anything else. Knowing what to do (and what not to do) right away can prevent further damage and bring relief faster. Here’s how to respond safely when something gets stuck in your eye.
This article details what to do when you do get something stuck in your eye.
What NOT to Do When Something Is Stuck in Your Eye
Although it may be difficult to remember in the moment, it’s important not to panic when something gets in your eye. Often the worst thing you can do in this scenario is rush to rub your eyes. While this is a typical instinctual reaction, like an itch that wants to be scratched, rubbing your eye with debris still stuck inside can cause real damage. And definitely don’t attempt to remove anything from your eye with tweezers or something similar.
If you feel like something serious is stuck in your eye like metal or glass, this is an eye emergency. Do not attempt to remove an embedded object like this – instead go directly to the doctor, emergency room, or optometrist that offers emergency services.
What to Do If You Have Something Stuck in Your Eye
While refraining from rubbing or touching your eye, the first thing to do when something feels like it’s stuck in your eye is to make your way to the bathroom and wash your hands with soap and warm water. The last thing you want is to exacerbate the situation with dirty hands. If possible, be sure to get under your fingernails and focus on a long, thorough handwashing.
The next step is to try flushing your eyes with lukewarm water or saline.
*Saline solution is a mixture of salt and water, which matches the saltiness of human tears and blood, therefore making it an ideal solution for tending to the body.
If you don’t have a saline solution on hand, just stick with water. The trick is to tilt your head back and let the water or saline flow over your eye. This might be a little tricky under some home faucets, so try the kitchen sink. In the best-case scenario, you’re at a workplace with an eyewash station. From there, blink your eyes repeatedly to try and flush out the foreign object.
After you’ve tried flushing for a while, you can attempt to remove your contact lenses if they’re still in. With no luck, just keep flushing and blinking.
If you have someone with you, get their help. Make sure they also wash their hands thoroughly first, then have them take a look in a well-lit area. They can pull your lower lid down while you look up, then vice versa with the upper lid.
Why It Feels Like Something Is Stuck in Your Eye
The cornea of the eye contains tiny nerve fibers that are extremely sensitive to touch. That means when something is in your eye, the feeling is unmistakable. Pain is normal, as is excessive watering from the tear ducts.
If you feel like something is stuck in your eye, there are generally three explanations as to why:
- A foreign object has entered your eye.
- The clear surface of your eye (known as the cornea) has become scratched. A corneal abrasion will feel very similar to something stuck in your eye.
- Inflammation. This is the body’s response to either a foreign body in the eye, a corneal abrasion, or something being rubbed further into the eye (perhaps while you were sleeping).
Any of these scenarios will be uncomfortable. But the symptoms might be different depending on what’s happened. A sharp, stabbing pain that worsens when blinking is often a sign that some damage has been done, while a grittier sensation is a better sign that something is stuck inside your eye. In the worst of cases, your vision will be affected. And if you notice redness and excessive watering from your eyes, that’s your body’s attempt at fighting back the irritation.
Corneal Abrasion: When to See an Optometrist
Once a foreign object is eventually removed from your eye, it’s common to endure a corneal abrasion. If it’s been a couple of hours and your eye hasn’t improved, this is likely the case.
These injuries can vary in severity. Most corneal abrasions will heal within a few hours or days, but if symptoms return weeks later, you may have a recurrent corneal erosion. This kind of injury could be painful when first waking up, and could make your eyes extra sensitive to light, twitchy, or extra watery.
If symptoms from a corneal abrasion persist or return after a long period, it’s best to contact your optometrist about treatment.
When is it an Eye Emergency?
There are a few situations where your best bet is to seek immediate medical attention, whether at the emergency room in a hospital, at a clinic, or at an optometrist who handles emergency situations.
As mentioned prior, if something is physically embedded in your eye like metal, glass or wood, do not attempt to remove it and head directly to a medical professional. This is a serious eye emergency that requires professional attention.
If an object comes in contact with your eye at high speed, there’s a good possibility that the foreign object has done serious damage to your eye. This is another scenario that constitutes an eye emergency.
If you’ve tried flushing out your eye and removing the irritant yet severe pain is persisting or your vision is declining, head out to see a doctor. In this case, the object is likely still in your eye or has caused damage some way or another.
Finally, if your eyes have been exposed to chemicals, it’s best to see a medical professional. Be sure to thoroughly rinse out your eye first, but head to the emergency room after you’ve done so.
Frequently Asked Questions About Something Stuck in Your Eye
Here are answers to some common questions about what to do when something gets stuck in your eye.
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If something is stuck in your eye, avoid rubbing it. Wash your hands, then gently flush your eye with clean lukewarm water or saline solution while blinking repeatedly. If irritation continues or pain is severe, seek medical care.
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Yes. If saline solution is not available, clean lukewarm tap water is generally safe for flushing out small particles from the eye. Avoid very hot or very cold water, and rinse gently.
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No. Rubbing your eye can scratch the cornea or push debris deeper, which may cause more irritation or injury. Flushing is safer than rubbing.
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Minor irritation often improves within minutes to a few hours after flushing. If discomfort, redness, or vision changes continue, you should see an eye care professional.
If you’re experiencing an eye emergency and don’t want to risk the wait times at a clinic or the emergency room, call Inner Harbour Optometry. With two downtown Victoria locations, we’ll attend to your emergency if we can, or refer you elsewhere in more severe cases.