Foreign Object in Eye? Safe Removal & When to See a Doctor

Having something in your eye can cause pain, discomfort and impaired vision. Avoid rubbing your eye if you think something is in it. Doing so can result in scratching or injuring your eye. If your eye is punctured or bleeding, see a doctor immediately. If not, you can attempt to remove the foreign object at home or work with water or a saline solution.

Things You'll Need

• Water or saline solution
• Paper towel

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Instructions

• 1

  Blink a few times to allow your eye to naturally clean itself. If this doesn't work, try pulling on your upper eyelid and blinking some more.

• 2

  Look in a mirror to see if you can locate any remaining debris in your eye. If you see something, hold your eye open and dab it with a folded piece of damp paper towel or tissue. The object will stick to the paper towel and come out.

• 3

  Rinse your eye with clean water or saline solution. This can be done by cupping your hands and filling them with water, then splashing it into your eyes. You can also use an eye rinse station if one is available at your school or workplace. Water is helpful in rinsing your eyes if they've been exposed to chemicals or other dangerous liquids.