Foreign Body in the Eye

First aid: how to get something out of your eye

Wash your hands first. Then:

1. Do not rub. Rubbing drags the particle across the cornea and can scratch it.
2. Blink several times. Tears often wash small particles out.
3. Rinse. Tilt your head so the affected eye is lower, then pour clean, lukewarm water or saline gently across it from the inner corner outward. A shower, an eyecup or a clean glass held against the eye socket all work.
4. Look under the upper lid. Pull the upper lid out and down over the lower lashes, which can sweep a particle off its underside.
5. Check the lower lid. Pull it down gently while you look up. If you see the particle on the lid lining or the white of the eye, lift it off with the corner of a moist cotton swab or tissue, or rinse it off.
6. Remove contact lenses after rinsing.

Never try to remove anything from the colored part or clear center of the eye with a swab, tweezers or fingernail. Do not use a needle or sharp object.

If an object is embedded

Do not try to pull it out. Do not press on the eye. Tape a paper cup or the bottom of a plastic bottle over the eye so nothing touches it, ask the person to keep both eyes as still as possible (covering the other eye helps), and get emergency care.

Symptoms

• A feeling that something is in the eye, often worse with blinking
• Pain, stinging or scratching
• Watering and redness
• Light sensitivity
• Blurred vision
• Squinting or eyelid spasm

The sensation can continue after the object has gone because it has left a scratch. That is a corneal abrasion, which feels identical. If you are not sure whether something is still there, see a clinician.

Common types and their risks

What a doctor will do

• Numbing drops make the examination painless.
• Vision check in each eye.
• Fluorescein dye and a blue light show scratches and any leaking fluid that would suggest penetration.
• Slit-lamp microscope examination to find and judge the depth of the foreign body.
• Eyelid eversion: the upper lid is flipped over a cotton swab to look for particles trapped underneath.
• Removal: with a rinse, a moist swab, or a fine needle or small burr held at an angle, under magnification. A rust ring is removed with a small rotating burr, sometimes in stages.
• Imaging: an X-ray or CT scan of the orbit if a high-speed fragment might be inside the eye. MRI is avoided until metal has been ruled out.

After removal

You will usually get antibiotic drops or ointment for a few days to prevent infection. Pain can be eased with acetaminophen (paracetamol) or ibuprofen at the label dose. Numbing drops are never given to take home, because repeated use damages the cornea. Contact lenses should stay out until the eye has healed and a clinician says it is safe. Patching is not routinely recommended.

Complications

• Corneal abrasion and, less often, recurrent erosion (the scratch reopening weeks later, often on waking)
• Infection or a corneal ulcer, especially with plant material or contact lenses
• A scar in the line of sight that blurs vision
• Rust staining
• With undetected penetrating injuries: infection inside the eye, cataract or retinal detachment

Prevention

• Wear safety glasses or goggles marked ANSI Z87.1 when grinding, hammering, drilling, using power tools, mowing or trimming.
• Ordinary prescription glasses are not safety glasses.
• Keep children away from fireworks, BB guns and pellet guns.
• Wear wraparound sunglasses on windy or sandy days.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get something out of your eye?

Wash your hands, avoid rubbing, blink several times, then rinse the eye with clean water or saline. Pulling the upper lid over the lower lashes can dislodge particles. If something is stuck on the colored part of the eye or the feeling lasts more than an hour after rinsing, see a doctor.

Why does it still feel like something is in my eye?

The particle may still be trapped under the upper eyelid, or it may have scratched the cornea on its way out. A scratch feels exactly like a foreign body. Most heal within 1 to 3 days, but a clinician should check if the feeling persists, worsens or comes with blurred vision.

What happens if metal gets in your eye?

A metal fleck can stick to the cornea and form a rust ring within hours, which raises the risk of irritation, infection and scarring. A high-speed metal fragment can enter the eye with little pain. Any metal injury needs same-day examination, and sometimes an X-ray or CT scan.

Can a foreign body come out on its own?

Yes, dust, sand and eyelashes often wash out with tears or blinking. Objects stuck on the cornea, metal fragments and anything embedded usually do not and need professional removal. Waiting increases the risk of infection and scarring.

Can an eyelash get lost behind your eye?

No. The lining of the eyelid folds back on itself and joins the white of the eye, forming a closed pocket. An eyelash or contact lens can hide high under the upper lid, but nothing can slip behind the eyeball. A clinician can flip the lid to find it.