We often find there are objects or small objects that enter our eyes. Dust, dirt, and other small particles can easily be blown by the wind and then enter the eyes. Conditions like this are not comfortable. Eyes are a delicate and very sensitive part of the body. So it's important to know how to get things out of your eyes in a safe and clean way.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Checking Eyes
Step 1. Wash your hands
Even though it doesn't look dirty, you need to wash your hands when you touch your eyes. You don't want to infect your eyes when you remove something from your eye. If your hands are not clean when trying to remove a small object from your eye, your eye can become infected.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and clean water for at least 20 seconds. This is to ensure that no bacteria or other contaminants get into your eyes. The eyes are quite susceptible to damage and infection.
- Make sure you rinse off the soap on your hands thoroughly so that soap residue doesn't get into your eyes.
Step 2. Locate the object in your eye
Move your eyes back and forth to find out where the object is. Move your eyes from left to right, as well as from top to bottom. You will feel where it is.
- Looking in a mirror is helpful if you can't tell where the object is.
- To make the inspection easier, use a flashlight or make sure you are in a well-lit place.
- Turn your head left and right then lift your head and lower it so that your eyes move while looking in the mirror.
Step 3. Seek help
Ask a friend or relative to check your eyes if you are having trouble. Pull your eye bags down and look up, slowly so the examiner has time to examine your eyes.
- If the object is not found this way, repeat, this time pulling your eyelid up and looking down to examine the upper eye.
- To check under the eyelids, place a cotton swab directly in front of the upper eyelid. Fold your eyelids over the cotton buds. This will make it easier for you to find objects that are stuck within the eyelid itself.
Step 4. Seek professional help
If you can't find the object or remove it, call your doctor. Seek medical help immediately if:
- You can't take things out of your eyes
- This thing sticks inside your eye
- You have visual impairment
- Pain, redness, or discomfort persists after the object is removed from the eye
Step 5. Call a poison control center
There may be toxic substances getting into your eyes. This can lead to very serious health problems. Call a poison control center and seek medical attention immediately if you experience:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Double vision or visual impairment
- Dizziness or loss of consciousness
- Rash or fever
Part 2 of 4: Making Eyewash
Step 1. Mix boiling water with salt
Many eye washes to remove objects from the eyes are available in the market. But if you don't have one, you can make your own. The basic mixture is salt and clean water.
- Boil water. Allow it to boil and hold at that temperature for one minute. Then, add a teaspoon of regular table salt for every one glass of water.
- If possible, use purified, sterile water instead of regular tap water. Tap water can contain more bacteria and additives than sterile water.
- This simple eye wash is made by mimicking the chemical composition of tears. The closer your solution is to the natural salt concentration (salinity) of your tears, the easier it is to the eye. Tears usually contain less than 1% salt by weight.
Step 2. Mix until smooth
Stir the mixture with a clean spoon to make sure that the salt you add dissolves well. Stir until the salt grains are no longer visible at the bottom of the pan.
Using boiling water and a relatively small amount of salt added, it shouldn't take much stirring to completely dissolve it
Step 3. Let it cool
Place your solution in a closed container and let it cool. When the solution reaches room temperature (or lower), it is ready to use.
- Never use an eye wash that is still hot. You could be seriously injured or even go blind by burning your eyes with hot water.
- Cover the solution while it cools to prevent any new contaminants from entering.
- Keeping the solution cool can have a refreshing effect as you use it. However, do not use an eye wash that is icy cold or below 15.6 °C. This will be painful and may even slightly damage your eyes.
- While you are very careful to keep your solution clean, don't forget to throw it away after a day or two. Bacteria can re-enter the solution after boiling.
Part 3 of 4: Removing Foreign Objects
Step 1. Use a bowl of eye wash
Using a bowl to hold the eyewash is a good way to rinse eyes that may have been exposed to a contaminant, or if foreign particles get stuck in the eye.
- Partially fill the bowl with sterile eyewash or lukewarm water between 15.6 °C to 37.7 °C.
- Do not fill the bowl to the brim as this will cause water to spill.
- Immerse your face into the bowl of water.
- Open and rotate your eyes so that the entire surface of the eye is in contact with the water. Move your eyes in a circular pattern to get water into your eyes. This will help remove contaminants.
- Get your face out of the water. Blink a few times so that the layer of water in your eye is evenly distributed.
Step 2. Use tap water
If you can't make or find a sterile eye wash, you can use plain tap water. While not ideal, tap water can be an option instead of having to wait to get or make an eye wash. Especially if there is something painful or poison in your eye.
- Flush your eyes with as much water as you can. If your sink has an adjustable faucet, aim it straight at your eyes. Set the faucet to low pressure and lukewarm and hold your eyes open with your fingers.
- Tap water is not ideal for washing eyes. This water is not as sterile as the pure water used in many laboratories. However, if something is toxic in your eye, it is far more important to rinse it off than worrying about a possible infection.
- Water does not neutralize chemicals. Water just dilutes and washes it off. For that, you need large amounts of water. The volume of water for washing should be at least 1.5 liters per minute for 15 minutes.
Step 3. Make sure you wash your eyes for the right time
Regardless of what method you use to wash your eyes, there are a few important guidelines to keep in mind about how long to wash your eyes.
- The American National Standards Institute recommends flushing the eyes with water for at least fifteen minutes.
- For mild chemical irritants, such as hand soap or shampoo, rinse for at least five minutes.
- For moderate to severe irritants, such as pepper, rinse for at least 20 minutes.
- For non-penetrating corrosive materials such as acids, rinse for at least 20 minutes. An example of an acid is a battery. Next, contact a poison control center and seek medical attention.
- For penetrating corrosive materials such as lye, rinse for at least 60 minutes. Toilet cleaners, clothes bleaches, and glass cleaners are common household alkalis. Call a poison control center and seek medical attention.
Step 4. Wipe with a cotton bud
You can use a cotton swab to remove any object or substance that comes out of the eyeball when you wash it. If the foreign object comes out of the eye on its own, you can rub it.
Be careful not to rub your eyes with a cotton bud. Washing your eyes with water is the safest way, don't try to rub the stuck object using a cotton bud
Step 5. Use a tissue
You can also remove objects from your eyes using a damp tissue. If you see an object on the whites of your eyes or behind your eyelids, moisten a tissue and touch the tip directly to the object you want to remove. The foreign object will stick to the tissue.
This method is less recommended than flushing the eyes with water. This method will cause irritation to the eyes. However, this irritation is normal and nothing to worry about
Part 4 of 4: Keeping Your Eyes After
Step 1. There will be some discomfort
It's normal to feel itching or discomfort in your eyes after you remove the irritating object. If the discomfort persists for more than a day after removing the object, call your doctor.
Step 2. Take precautions to aid recovery
There are many precautions to take to protect your eyes during the recovery process. As:
- Inform the ophthalmologist if new symptoms appear or if the pain is unbearable
- If you consult an ophthalmologist, follow his advice
- Protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays or sunlight by wearing sunglasses when outdoors
- Avoid wearing contact lenses until your eyes heal
- Avoid exposing your hands to the eye area and wash your hands before touching the eye area
- Take any prescribed medications as advised by your doctor (who may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain relief or antibiotics if you wear contact lenses, as contact lenses make you susceptible to infection)
Step 3. Keep an eye on your situation
If the situation improves, no further action is needed. If the situation gets worse, see a professional ophthalmologist. The following are signs to look out for after removing an object from your eye:
- Double or blurry vision
- Pain that continues or gets worse
- Blood in the iris (the colored part of the eye)
- Sensitive to light
- Other signs of infection such as watering, redness, pain around the eyes, or fever
Tips
- The eye will naturally expel foreign objects, such as sand and eyelashes, with frequent blinking and/or crying.
- The best quality eye wash available in the market is always better than homemade remedies. This is because homemade solutions can contain elements that might harm an already sore eye.
Warning
- Do not use eyecups as the small particles will get trapped even further.
- Never remove metal debris, large or small, stuck in the eye. Go to the doctor right away.
- Never press the eye to remove an object.
- Never use tweezers, toothpicks, or other hard objects to remove objects from your eyes.
