What to do if something gets into your eye

General Tips

A brush of mascara, a twig, or a fingernail can cut the surface of the eye, and you will feel intense burning and discomfort, or feel nothing if the scratch is small. Therefore, it is better to play it safe and appear to a specialist. Your doctor will prescribe drops or ointments to prevent infections and scarring from developing.

If a foreign body remains in the eye, never rub the eyelids. The object can scratch the mucous membrane and cause serious complications.

Do not handle eyes with unwashed hands. Do not rinse the mucous membrane with dirty water. Do not use tweezers, toothpicks or any other hard objects: they can easily cut delicate tissues.

Do not try to remove an object that has injured the surface of the eye and cannot be washed off with water. In this situation, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Do not rinse your eyes if you are wearing contact lenses. Remove them first.

What to do if a chemically active substance gets into the eye

Wash your hands thoroughly. Make sure they are free of soap or any substance that has gotten into the eye.

Remove and discard lenses. The lens can absorb the substance and irritate the surface of the eye.

Flush eyes with water for 15-30 minutes. If discomfort persists, see your doctor. Just in case, take a sample of the substance that got into your eye with you.

If there is glue on the conjunctiva, do not try to remove it yourself: only an ophthalmologist should do this. Rinse your eye and go to him.

What to do if a foreign body gets into the eye

Wash your hands thoroughly. Examine the mucous membrane of the eye to find a foreign body.

Non-sharp objects (eyelashes, hair, particles of cosmetics) can be removed with a cotton swab moistened with water. If the hair is light and you cannot find it, rinse your eye.

It is better not to touch sharp objects (shavings, glass, coarse sand), as they can scratch the tissues of the eye and lead to serious complications, including loss of vision. Pull back the upper eyelid slightly and rinse the eye with water. You can use an eye bath, a regular glass or bottle for this.

If the item does not wash off or discomfort remains after removal, cover or lightly bandage the eye with gauze and immediately contact the nearest ophthalmologist or call an ambulance. Never put pressure on the eye.

Only a doctor can determine that your eyes are normal. Therefore, even if you managed to remove a foreign body, consult an ophthalmologist.

How to see a doctor

If you can see and walk, go to the nearest ophthalmologist. Put on dark glasses or cover your eyes with gauze, take your passport and policy.

In an emergency (trauma, injury, including chemical and thermal burns, foreign bodies in the eye, sudden pain, sudden decrease or loss of vision), you will be accepted out of turn. You do not need to take any coupons.

If your eyes are watery, hurt a lot, or you only partially see the world around you, call an ambulance.

How to keep your eyes healthy

Wear safety glasses when working with stone, wood, metal, sand, reagents, car batteries, and so on.
Keep chemical cans and tubes away from your eyes.
Wear gloves when using cleaning products, and then wash your hands with soap and water: this way you will not add chemistry to the mucous membrane. Keep all products out of the reach of children.
Get your vision checked once a year, or twice a year in unfavorable working conditions.