Eye injuries
Flushing your eye
If you have loose particles in your eye or your eye has been exposed to chemicals, flush it out with an eyewash or plenty of clean water for at least 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contact lenses, remember to remove them before flushing the eye.
You can flush your eyes in the following ways:
- Sit down and slant your head so the injured eye is lower than the unaffected eye, ideally over a bath or sink, then use a glass or cupped hand to repeatedly pour water across the eye from the bridge of the nose.
- If both eyes are affected, tilt your head back,keeping it level,and use a glass or cupped hand to repeatedly pour water across both eyes from the bridge of the nose.
- If you have access to a shower, aim a gentle stream of warm water at your forehead or just above the affected eye while holding the affected eye open.
- If you're working outside, you can use a garden hose to rinse your eye using a very low flow setting.
All eye injuries caused by chemical exposure should be seen by an eye doctor or nurse as soon as possible after flushing. You should also seek immediate medical advice if there are still any foreign bodies in the eye after flushing it.
Don't try to remove any objects embedded or stuck in the eye yourself, as this can damage the eye further. These should only be removed by an eye expert.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about treating and preventing common types of eye injuries, and find out when you should seek immediate medical advice.
What to do
Minor irritation or injury to the front of the eye usually doesn't require medical treatment and should clear up within24 hours. If you experience discomfort, painkillerssuch as paracetamol or Paink
Flushing your eye
If you have loose particles in your eye or your eye has been exposed to chemicals, flush it out with an eyewash or plenty of clean water for at least 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contact lenses, reme
Whento seek immediate medical advice
You should go immediately to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E)department if you have: persistent or severe eye pain foreign bodies that can't be washed out decreased or double vision
Seeing a doctor
If you have a serious eye injury, you'll usually be seen by an eye specialist called an ophthalmologist or a specialist eye nurse. You'll be asked how the injury happened, your vision and eye movemen
Preventing eye injuries
Many eye injuries are preventable if youtake appropriate safety precautionsduring leisure activities or workfor example, wearing eye protection when hammeringmetal and using power tools. You should a
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