Our eyes are powerful tools. They are also highly sensitive, which many people learn when they experience eye problems. While eyelashes, glasses and contacts usually serve as a barrier, a foreign object sometimes finds a way into an eye. The result is discomfort, tears and even pain. Here are a few tips to follow when this happens to you.

What Should You Do If You Get Something in Your Eye?

1. Don't Rub

When you get something in your eye — whether it's dust, dirt, hair, pollen, cosmetics, or other debris — your first impulse is likely to rub or scratch. The foreign object causes irritation, which you might try to address by touching your eyelid. 

However, rubbing can scratch the surface of the eye. A corneal abrasion, one of the most common eye problems, will only increase feelings of soreness, tenderness, pain and sensitivity to light. 

2. Gently Check the Eye

As soon as you feel a bit of grit in your eye, wash your hands and find a mirror where you can check your eye. Open it as wide as you can and inspect the entire surface, making sure to rotate the eye in all directions. Gently pull your lower and upper lids to see if you can spot any debris.  

3. Rinse the Eye

First, try rapid blinking to see if your natural tears will free and remove the speck. If that doesn't work, you can rinse your eye with one of several options: eye wash from a first aid kit, a cup of saline solution or a stream of lukewarm tap water. Take out contacts, if you wear them. 

Tilt your head to the side, open your eye wide and pour the liquid through the eye. You may need to enlist the help of a friend if you need your hands to hold your eye open. Alternatively, you can dunk your eye in a cup of water or saline, then open and close it until the debris is flushed out.

4. See an Eye Doctor

An eyelash or piece of pollen likely won't cause serious eye problems, but other situations require medical attention. You should consult an eye doctor right away if the foreign object won't budge after rinsing, if chemicals got into your eyes, if the object was glass or metal, if you can feel but can't see the debris, if your vision changes, or if any bleeding occurs.

If you are experiencing eye problems, get in touch with Progressive Vision Group PA. Their experienced eye doctors provide comprehensive eye exams at their office in High Point, NC, and they specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous ocular conditions and diseases. Call (336) 841-2028 to book an appointment with an optometrist and visit the website to learn more about how they can improve your vision.