Something in your eye? First aid, and when to get it checked

First, let your eye try

Your eye is good at clearing small particles. Blink several times and let your tears do the work before you try anything else.

Still there? Rinse it

• Rinse the eye with saline or clean water. A small, clean glass works if you rest its rim on the bone below your lower eyelid.
• Pull your upper eyelid down over your lower eyelid. Your lower lashes can sweep out something trapped underneath.
• If light bothers your eye afterward, wearing sunglasses can help.

What not to do

• Don't rub your eye. Rubbing can turn a speck into a scratch, or make a scratch worse.
• Don't touch your eye with fingers, cotton swabs or tweezers.
• Don't try to remove anything stuck in your eye, or anything that makes it hard to close your eye.
• Take out contact lenses, and leave them out until the eye has healed.
• Skip redness-relief drops. They can sting and won't help a scratch heal. Don't use any eye drops without asking a doctor first.

Chemicals and injuries need different first aid

Chemical splash (cleaners, bleach, garden or work chemicals): flush the eye right away with plenty of clean water, then get emergency care. Bring the product's label if you can.

A cut, puncture or something stuck in the eye: don't rinse it and don't press on it. Gently cover the eye with a protective shield without pressing on it, and go to the emergency room. Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen, which can increase bleeding.

When to see an eye doctor the same day

Get checked if your eye still feels like something is in it after rinsing, or if it stays red, painful, watery, sensitive to light or blurry. These can be signs of a scratch on the cornea (the clear front of the eye). An untreated scratch can become infected and turn into a corneal ulcer, so it's worth a prompt exam even when it seems minor.

Contact lens wearers should take extra care. A red, painful eye in a lens wearer always deserves a same-day visit.

How Fenix Lumi can help

Both of our offices see red, painful and scratched eyes as medical visits. We look at the surface of your eye under a microscope, check for scratches, and treat what we find or refer you if you need a specialist. Walk-ins are welcome at both offices when the schedule allows, so call ahead if you can. Learn more about our medical eye care.