Getting dust, sand, an eyelash or another tiny particle in the eye can be extremely irritating. The natural reaction is often to rub the eye or try to remove the particle with whatever is nearby.
But rubbing your eyes or using objects such as tweezers, toothpicks or pins can scratch the cornea and cause serious eye injury. Even a small scratch can lead to pain, redness, infection or blurred vision.
So, what should you actually do when something gets into your eye?
1. Don’t rub your eyes
Rubbing may feel like the quickest way to get rid of irritation, but it can push the particle deeper into the eye or scratch the surface of the cornea.
If the particle is sharp or gritty, rubbing can make the injury worse.
The first step should always be to keep your hands away from your eyes.
2. Never use tweezers or a toothpick
Using tweezers, toothpicks, pins or other pointed objects around the eye is risky.
A sudden movement can cause the object to hit or scratch the cornea. It can also cause a deeper injury if the object enters the eye.
Even if you can clearly see the particle, don’t try to dig it out with a sharp instrument.
3. Wash your hands first
If something gets into your eye, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching the area around your eyes.
Clean hands reduce the chance of introducing bacteria and causing an infection.
4. Try blinking naturally
For small particles such as dust or an eyelash, blinking several times may help the eye’s natural tears wash the particle away.
Don’t forcefully rub or squeeze the eye.
If the particle doesn’t come out, move on to gentle rinsing rather than trying to pick it out.
5. Rinse the eye with clean water
For a loose particle, gently flushing the eye with clean, lukewarm water can help remove it.
You can allow a gentle stream of water to flow over the eye while keeping the eyelids open. Do not use high-pressure water.
Sterile saline eye-wash can also be used if it is available.
6. What if something is stuck in the eye?
If an object appears embedded in the eye, do not try to remove it yourself.
Don’t press on the eye and don’t rub it. Protect the eye without putting pressure on it and seek urgent medical attention.
This is particularly important if the object is metal, glass, wood or another sharp material.
7. Chemical exposure needs immediate action
If a chemical or cleaning product gets into your eye, don’t wait for irritation to disappear.
Immediately flush the eye with plenty of clean, lukewarm water for at least 20 minutes and seek urgent medical attention. If possible, take the chemical container or its label with you so healthcare professionals know what substance was involved.
8. Know when you need an eye doctor
You should get prompt medical attention if:
- The object cannot be removed by gentle rinsing.
- There is severe or increasing eye pain.
- Vision becomes blurred or decreases.
- You develop significant redness or swelling.
- There is bleeding from the eye.
- Light becomes unusually painful to look at.
- A sharp or high-speed object has hit the eye.
- A chemical has entered the eye.
A corneal scratch or other eye injury may require proper examination and treatment.
The Bottom Line
A tiny particle in the eye can be irritating, but trying to remove it with tweezers, toothpicks, pins or other sharp objects can turn a minor problem into a serious injury.
Instead, avoid rubbing, blink naturally and gently rinse the eye with clean water or sterile saline. If the object is embedded, the injury is severe, or your vision changes, seek medical care rather than trying to remove it yourself.
Your eyes are delicate—when in doubt, don’t dig or rub.
