Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Inspecting your eye
• Part 2 of 4: Making an eye wash
• Part 3 of 4: Getting the object out
• Part 4 of 4: Treat your eye afterwards
• Tips
• Warnings

It often happens that people get small objects or particles in their eyes. Dust, dirt and other small pieces can be blown into your eye by the wind. This can be very annoying. Your eyes are a very sensitive and vulnerable part of your body, so it's important to know how to get it out safely.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Inspecting your eye

1. Wash your hands. Even though your hands appear clean, it's important to wash them before touching your eye. Of course, you don't want to get dirt in your eye while you're trying to get something else out of it.
   • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Then you can be sure that you will not get bacteria or other dirt in your eye. Eyes are very easily damaged and inflamed.
2. Locate the particle in your eye. Move your eye back and forth to feel where the object is. Move them from left to right and top to bottom. You may be able to see or feel where it is.
   • If you look in the mirror you may be able to see exactly where the dirt is.
   • A flashlight or other bright light can also be useful to shed some light on the situation. Good light makes inspection a lot easier.
   • Turn your head left and right, and up and down while looking in the mirror.
3. Ask for help. Have a friend or family member look for you if you find it difficult. Pull your eyelid down and look up slowly so that the other person can look at your eye for a moment.
   • If the object is still not visible, you will need to lift your upper eyelid and look down to have the top of your eyeball inspected.
   • To see under your eyelid, you can place a cotton swab just above the upper eyelid. Now pass the eyelid over the cotton swab. This way you can see if the object is hidden under the eyelid itself.
4. Get professional help. If you can't find the dirt, or if you can't get it out yourself, call your doctor. Get immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:
   • You cannot get the object out of your sight
   • The object is stuck in your eye
   • Your vision has changed
   • You have pain, redness, or discomfort after removing the object from your eye.
5. Call 112. You may have gotten a toxic substance in your eye. This can have serious consequences. Call 911 immediately if you experience any of the following:
   • Nausea or vomiting
   • Headache or lightheaded
   • Double vision or limited vision
   • Dizziness or loss of consciousness
   • Rash or fever

Part 2 of 4: Making an eye wash

1. Mix boiled water with salt. There are various types of eye wash available that are very suitable for removing small particles from your eye. But if you don't have one at home, you can also make it yourself. The base is a mixture of salt and water.
   • Boil water. Let it cook for a minute. Then add 1 teaspoon of table salt or sea salt per 250 ml of water.
   • If possible, use sterilized or filtered water instead of tap water. This can contain more bacteria and more substances have been added than sterilized water.
   • The purpose of a homemade eye wash is to mimic the chemical composition of tear fluid. The better it resembles your tears, the less shock will be to your eyes. Tears usually contain less than 1% salt.
2. Mix it well. Stir your mixture with a clean spoon so that the salt dissolves well. Stir until you don't see any more grains on the bottom of the pan.
   • Since the water boils, and you add relatively little salt, it shouldn't take long for it to dissolve completely.
3. Let it cool down. Place the solution in a covered container and let it cool. If it is at room temperature (or lower), you can use it.
   • Never use the eye wash while it is still warm. You can seriously injure or blind yourself if you get hot water in your eyes.
   • Keep the solution covered while it cools to make sure no dirt can get in.
   • If you keep the solution cool, it also has a refreshing effect on your eyes when you use it. But never use water colder than 15ºC. That can hurt and even slightly damage your eyes.
   • Even if you try hard to keep the solution clean, you should throw it away after a day or two. After cooking, new bacteria can enter the solution again.

Part 3 of 4: Getting the object out

1. Use a bowl with an eye wash. Administering an eye wash from a bowl is a good way to flush out eyes if there is a corrosive substance or dirt in it.
   • Partially fill a bowl with the sterile eye wash or with lukewarm water at between 15 and 37ºC.
   • Do not fill the bowl all the way to the brim or the water will flow over it.
   • Put your face in the water.
   • Open your eyes and rotate them so that the entire surface of your eyes is in contact with the water. The water can get into your eye by spinning in circles. That will help remove the dirt.
   • Get your face out of the water again. Blink a few times so that your eyes are covered with an even layer of water.
2. Use tap water. If you cannot make a sterile flush, use plain tap water. That is not ideal, but in many cases it is better than waiting too long. This method is especially suitable if there is something very painful or toxic in your eye.
   • Pour as much water into your eyes as possible while keeping them open. If your sink has a detachable faucet, point it directly in your eye. Keep the pressure low and use lukewarm water, trying to keep your eye open with your fingers.
   • Tap water is not ideal for rinsing your eyes. It's not as sterile as distilled water. But if you've gotten something toxic in your eye, it's far more important to flush it out right away than to be concerned about possible infections.
   • Water does not neutralize many chemicals. It just dilutes it and washes it away. That's why you need a lot of water. The volume of the water should be at least 1.5 liters per 15 minutes.
3. Rinse your eye long enough. Whichever method you use, there are some important guidelines to follow so that you rinse your eyes long enough.
   • It is recommended that you rinse your eyes for at least 15 minutes.
   • With slightly irritating substances, such as soap or shampoo, a minimum of 5 minutes is recommended.
   • For moderate to severe irritants, such as hot peppers, rinse for at least 20 minutes.
   • For non-penetrating caustics such as acids, rinse for at least 20 minutes. An example of this is battery acid. In the meantime, call 112 and get medical help.
   • With penetrating corrosive substances such as alkalis, rinse for at least 60 minutes. Examples of alkalis are sink drain cleaner, bleach and ammonia. Call 112 and get help.
4. Wipe it clean with a cotton swab. You can use a cotton swab to get a dirt out of your eye while you rinse. If the particle is no longer in your eye itself, you can wipe it away.
   • Do not touch your eye yourself with the cotton swab. It is better to rinse the dirt out with water, and not scrape your eyeball with a cotton swab.
5. Use a tissue. You can also remove the dirt with a piece of wet tissue. If you see a dirt on the white of the eye or on the inside of your eyelid, you can wet a tissue and wipe the dirt out with a tip. The dirt should stick to the tissue.
   • This method is less recommended than rinsing with water. It can irritate your eye. This is completely normal and nothing to worry about.

Part 4 of 4: Treat your eye afterwards

1. Expect it to feel unpleasant for a while. It is normal that it still feels a bit burning or painful after you have removed the dirt. If it still hurts after a day, see your doctor.
2. Take precautions to speed up recovery. There are all kinds of measures to take to protect your eye while it recovers. For instance:
   • See an eye doctor if new symptoms appear or if the pain becomes excruciating.
   • Follow the ophthalmologist's advice, if you have consulted them.
   • Protect your eyes from UV light or bright light by wearing sunglasses.
   • Do not wear contact lenses until the eye has healed.
   • Touch your eyes as little as possible and wash your hands well before doing so.
   • Take all prescription medications as advised by your doctor.
3. Continue to monitor the situation. If it gets better, you don't have to do anything else. If it gets worse, see an eye doctor. Here are signs to look for after removing something from your eye:
   • Blurred or double vision
   • Pain that persists or gets worse.
   • Blood on the iris (the colored part of the eye)
   • Hypersensitivity to light
   • Signs of infection such as pus, redness, pain, or fever

Tips

• Usually, your eye can excrete foreign particles on its own, such as sand or eyelashes, by blinking a lot and / or getting tears in your eyes.
• A professional store-bought eye wash is always better than a homemade one, as homemade solutions can contain substances that damage the eye.

Warnings

• Never try to remove a piece of metal stuck in the eye yourself. See a doctor immediately.
• Never use tweezers, toothpicks, or other hard tools to take anything out of your eye.
• Never put pressure on your eye when you are trying to get something out of it.
• Do not use an eye bath, as this can cause particles to get trapped even further.