You might be having a great day, relaxed and peaceful. But that peace is shattered when something goes into one or both of your eyes. Your eyes sting, and you feel the urge to rub them! But you know you shouldn’t! It could be a splash of some liquid chemical soap, dust, or some piece of debris.
All you know is that your eye hurts when you blink. So, what should you do now? Firstly, never rub your eyes, as that could aggravate the irritation. Secondly, the best thing to do in moments like these is to flush out your eyes. Do you need more information on how to deal with an eye emergency? Well, you are in the right spot! Keep reading!
You should never wait when something is causing irritation to the eyes, as maintaining your eye health is of paramount importance. Depending upon what the item is, there are different approaches to dealing with it.
● If it’s a Liquid Chemical: Check for any safety directions on the label, and if not available, proceed to flush your eyes to water down the chemical. Try to plan a visit to your eye doctor to avoid any long-term eye issues.
● If it’s a Solid Object Like a Piece of Debris, Eyelash, or Insect: Try removing it with a clean cotton swab, tissue, or your clean finger. If the debris is close to your corneas, then the best solution is to flush out your eyes, as poking may cause further irritation.
There are a few simple steps to follow when flushing out your eyes.
● Wash Your Hands With Soap and Water: To prevent any further infection from unknown particles, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water.
● Rotate Your Eye in Every Direction: If this step is making your eyes hurt when you blink or move, it could be that something is wedged in the interiors of your eyes. This may also help to get any small objects to be dislodged and come into view.
● Look at All Surfaces of Your Eye: Look at your corneas, under your eyelids, and the conjunctiva. Gently use your clean finger to pull your upper and lower eyelids away from the eyeball to analyze if there is any discomfort.
● Begin Flushing Your Eye (or Eyes) With Warm Water: Try to get a steady but gentle stream of water or saline solution to flush out whatever irritant is stuck there. You should also try to keep your eyes open for this procedure for maximum effect.
● Be Gentle: This goes without saying, but be very careful after flushing out your eye. If you see any debris on the white portion of your eye, very gently lift it off your eyeball. If it is on top of your iris, then blink a few times to shift it towards your corneas. Being hasty with this step could lead to eye injury.
● Be Thorough: Spend a minimum of 15 minutes flushing your eye or eyes if you have been exposed to a chemical. If some debris goes into your eye, keep checking if the eye flush helps to get rid of it every few minutes.
If you’re at home, and your eye feels bruised when you blink due to some debris, it’s best to step into the shower. This way, you can avoid creating a mess. Stand under the showerhead and let warm water flow down into your eyes.
One important thing to remember is to not look up directly into the pressurized stream of water, as that will be too harsh for your eyes and may cause the risk of further irritation or eye injury.
If you cannot step into a shower, then you can just as quickly flush your eyes in a sink in the following ways:
● If Your Head Can Fit Under the Faucet: Bend over the sink and set warm water to run a slow and steady stream. Turn sideways and let the water wash over your face and flow into your eyes.
● If Your Head Can’t Fit Under the Faucet: Fill a tumbler or pitcher with warm water and repeat the same procedure mentioned above. You can even utilize saline solution or an all-purpose contact lens solution to flush out your eyes.
Just try to avoid any deep cleaning eye washes with chemicals in them, as that might aggravate the situation.
A thorough eye flush can only go so far. If the discomfort continues, it is better to consult a professional who can address the issue. Usually, at-home remedies like flushing your eyes help to remove any irritants present in the eye.
Such irritations often subside within a few days or overnight. Remember, your eye health is critical, and taking the proper steps in case of an emergency is just as integral as any first-aid.
Author Bio: Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK. Aaron loves collecting coasters from the different bars and restaurants he visits during his travels. |
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