How to Get Things Out of Your Eye

If you find yourself with something in your eye, immediate removal is necessary. If this foreign object is small and has not penetrated your eye, a simple flushing of your eye is typically all that is required. Before beginning the steps of removal, carefully assess the situation to ensure that the object has not entered the eye nor scratched the cornea. In some situations, prompt medical attention will be needed to remove an object and prevent irreparable damage to the eye.

Things You'll Need

• Clean cotton swabs
• Clean water
• Mirror

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Instructions

Small Particle Removal

• 1

  Wash your hands. If you are wearing contact lenses, remove the lens in the affected eye.

• 2

  Examine your eye in a mirror in a well-lit area. Locate the object by moving your eye up, down and side to side.

• 3

  Try looking on the eyelids. Pull out and examine the lower eyelid. To inspect the upper eyelid, place a clean cotton swab on top of the upper eyelid and then fold the eyelid up and over the cotton swab.

• 4

  Flush the area with clean water. Hold your eyelids apart with one hand while splashing water into your eye with the other. Alternatively, flush your eye by filling a sink of bowl with warm water, submerging your eyes, and then forcing them open while submerged. If flushing does not work to remove the object, touch a clean cotton swab to the object. Do not touch the cotton swab to any part of the eye itself.

• 5

  Avoid wearing contact lenses for about an hour after the object is removed to give the eye a chance to heal.