QUESTION: What to do if a foreign body gets into the eye?

A foreign body getting into the eye causes severe pain, tearing, and discomfort, so you need to act carefully to avoid damaging the cornea. The most important rule in such a situation is never to rub your eye with your hands, as this can drive a speck of dust or debris even deeper into the tissues.

If the foreign body is small, try blinking frequently so that the tear fluid naturally washes the speck out. You can gently pull the upper eyelid down over the lower one so that the eyelashes help shift the particle.

If necessary, rinse the eye with a large amount of clean running water or a special saline solution using a clean container or a syringe without a needle. If a chemical substance, such as alkali or acid, gets into the eye, immediately rinse it with running water for fifteen minutes or more.

If the pain does not go away, you feel the constant presence of a foreign body, or if there is a deterioration in vision or hemorrhage, consult an ophthalmologist immediately. It is strictly forbidden to independently remove deeply embedded or sharp objects.