Foreign Bodies in Eyes

Minor injuries to the eyes can often be treated at home if the damage isn’t too extensive. You can self treat some ailments such as specks of dirt or other foreign particles that land in the eye, or even splashing of chemicals. The rule of thumb as always is:  if you are in doubt, seek professional medical attention.

Treatment and Expectations: Avoid rubbing the injured eyes (even if it feels good) as foreign bodies will scratch the eyeball, making the injury worse. For small particles that have not embedded themselves, you can can try to irrigate the eye with plenty of clean water. Be sure to peel the upper and lower eyelids back and rinse well inside of them because the foreign bodies are often hidden in the little pockets  that are formed by eyeball and the eyelids.

A particle may also be gently removed with the corner of a soft tissue or moist cotton swab, simply by lightly touching the particle, and allowing it to cling to the tissue or swab. Don’t try this if the particle is stuck to the pupil area, rinsing is better. Don’t ever use any hard objects to try to remove any foreign bodies.

A chemical splash requires rinsing with large amounts of clean water. It must be done properly as to not further the damage the eye and so that the chemicals won’t accidentally run into the other eyeball. To do this, turn your head sideways with the injured eye below the unaffected eye. Hold your eyelids open and begin flushing with large amounts of Sterile Eye Irrigating Solution, being sure to also hold out the eyelids away from the eyeball and rinsing in the pockets above and below. After doing this, close the eyes tightly with a good squeeze to force more water back into the deep crevices of the eye for complete irrigation. Repeat as needed.

The eye is one of the fastest healing parts of your body. You can expect minor injuries to be irritated for a few hours after the injury, and completely heal within 3 days. It may help cover the eyes with an Oval Eye Patch and tape them shut in order to minimize blinking and further irritation.  In 24 hours, you can remove the patch and use some Lubricating Eye Drops.

For more information about this and other Urgent Care matters, I highly recommend The American Red Cross First Aid and Safety Handbook .  It has earned tons of  5 star reviews from amazon.com readers and is a must for your household reference.

Seek Professional Medical Attention If:

1. The foreign body cannot be removed easily, or the object is embedded in the eye.
2. The eyeball itself has been punctured, or the wound is deeper than 1/32 inch (1mm) into the surface of eyeball.
3. The pain persists.
4. There is any change in the quality of vision.
5. Signs or symptoms of infection.
6. Has not healed by 72 hours.