How to Safely Remove an Insect from Your Eye: A Step-by-Step Guide

If an insect flies into your eye it should be removed with care. Your eye's natural defense system--tears--will often unstick the bug from the surface of the eye and wash it away. If tears prove insufficient, you may need to remove the insect manually. There are two methods for safely removing foreign objects from the eye: flushing and dabbing.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Soap
• Cotton swab
• Mirror
• Tissue

Show More

Instructions

Flushing

• 1

  Wash your hands with soap and water.

• 2

  Run a moderate stream of lukewarm water from the faucet.

• 3

  Bend over the sink so that the water flows toward the bridge of your nose, over the affected eye. Open your eyes wide and allow water to flow over the eye, washing away the insect.

• 4

  Check every five minutes to see if the insect has been removed. If it's still in the eye after three washing sessions, attempt dabbing or visit a medical professional.

Dabbing

• 5

  Wash your hands with soap and water.

• 6

  Invert the upper eyelid by pulling it away from the eye by the eyelashes and placing a cotton swab on the top of the lid, gently pressing down then lifting up toward the brow.

• 7

  Twirl a section of tissue and wet it with water. Carefully dab the tip of the tissue over the insect so that the bug sticks to the tissue and pulls away from the eye.

• 8

  Rinse the eye under cool water to ensure that all of the insect has been removed from the eye.