

What To Do When An Object Gets Into Your Eye Important Information About Objects in the Eye Most specks that enter the eye are harmless and can be taken care of by blinking or tearing. You should never try to remove an object if it is embedded in your cornea, if your eye is obviously injured, if you suddenly have severe pain or trouble seeing, or if you develop a fever. You may have an injury that poses a serious threat to your sight. Self-Care Measures When attempting to remove an object from your eye, do not rub your eye or try to remove an object that is stuck or embedded. Instead, cover both eyes with a sterile or clean compress and call your nurse information service or doctor or have someone make the call for you. It is important to cover both eyes because if the unaffected eye is open the pupils in both eyes will change in reaction to light exposure, potentially worsening your eye pain. If you can’t close your eye, cover it with a small paper cup. To remove an object that is not stuck is your eye but is on the surface or under your eyelid: Wash your hands; then gently pull down your lower eyelid. If the object is there, remove it with the tip of a moistened cotton swab or the corner of a clean cloth. If the object is not visible, grasp the eyelashes of the upper eyelid and pull out and down until the upper lid overlaps the lower. Wait a moment until your tears wash the object out. If the object is still there, wash the eye using eye irrigating solution or open your eye under running water. For lingering pain or discomfort after an object is removed, call your nurse information service or doctor. Prevention Always wear protective eye gear when doing carpentry, metalwork, heavy yard maintenance, or any activity involving loose dirt, wood splinters, sawdust, metal, glass, or any other particles. |
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