What should I do if a chemical gets in my eye?

Start rinsing straight away with clean, lukewarm running water — a tap, shower or bottled water — and keep going for at least 20 minutes, holding the eyelids open. Take out contact lenses if they don't come out with rinsing. For strong chemicals such as bleach, oven cleaner, cement or lime, keep rinsing on the way and go to the ER or call 911. Take the container with you.

How do I get something out of my eye?

For dust, sand or an eyelash, blink several times and let your tears flush it out, then rinse with clean water or saline. You can try lifting the upper lid over the lower lashes. Don't rub. If it's metal or glass, it won't come out, or it still feels like something is there afterwards, see a doctor, because the surface of the eye may be scratched or something may be embedded.

When is an eye injury an emergency?

Go to the ER or call 911 for a strong chemical in the eye, anything that has pierced the eye, a high-speed injury (power tools, hammering metal), any change in vision, severe pain, sensitivity to light or a headache, nausea or vomiting after the injury, being unable to move or open the eye, or blood or pus coming from it.

Should I rinse an eye that has been cut or pierced?

No. For a cut or penetrating injury, the American Academy of Ophthalmology advises not rinsing it, not removing anything stuck in it, and not pressing on it. Gently cover the eye with a shield, such as the bottom of a paper cup, and get emergency help. Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen, which can increase bleeding.

Is a black eye serious?

Most black eyes are bruising of the skin around the eye and heal on their own in a week or two. But even a light blow can damage the eye itself, so get checked urgently if you have pain in the eye, blurred or double vision, flashes or floaters, blood in the clear part of the eye, or if you can't move the eye normally.

Can I wear contact lenses after an eye injury?

No. The NHS advises not wearing contact lenses, or make-up around the eye, until the eye has fully recovered. If you wear lenses and your eye becomes painful, red or sensitive to light, take the lenses out and get it checked, because infections of the surface of the eye can be serious.

Eye Injury or Chemical in the Eye: What to Do and When to Go to the ER

A splash of bleach while cleaning the bathroom, a spark from an angle grinder in a workshop, sand on a windy day, a ball to the face, cement during home repairs. Eye injuries are common, and most are minor, but some threaten your sight within minutes if they aren't handled correctly. And the right first step depends on the type of injury: immediate rinsing is everything for a chemical burn, but it's the wrong thing for a cut eye. This guide explains what to do for each type, and when to go to the ER.

First aid by type of injury

Based on advice from the NHS and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO):

Injury	Do	Don't
Chemical splash (bleach, oven cleaner, cement, lime)	Rinse with clean running water for at least 20 minutes, holding the eye open	Rub the eye, or wait to see if it settles
Dust, sand or an eyelash	Blink, let tears work, then rinse with clean water or saline	Rub, or poke at it with a finger or tissue corner
Something stuck in or piercing the eye	Cover with a paper cup or shield without pressing, and come in now	Rinse it, pull the object out, or press on the eye
A blow to the eye (ball, fist, elbow)	Gentle cold compress without pressure; get checked if vision or pain changes	Press on the eye, or use raw meat or food on it

Chemical in the eye: how to rinse it

Alkalis such as cement, lime and oven or drain cleaners, as well as strong acids, can cause deep burns to the surface of the eye. Every second counts, so don't wait until you reach a hospital to start rinsing:

Clean, lukewarm water from a tap, shower or bottle — not hot.
Hold the lids open with your fingers and let water run over the eyeball, with a gentle flow.
At least 20 minutes by the clock, and longer for strong chemicals.
Take out contact lenses if they don't come out with rinsing.
Take the container with you — the information on it helps with treatment.
For strong chemicals, keep rinsing while you wait for an ambulance or on the way, and don't drive yourself.

If the chemical also got on the skin, rinse that with water the same way. Our guide to burns first aid covers chemical and heat burns to the skin.

When should you go to the ER for an eye injury?

Call 911 for

A strong chemical in the eye (keep rinsing until help arrives).
An object that has pierced the eye or is stuck in it.
An eye injury that is part of a major head or face injury.

Go to the ER / come in now

Something hit the eye at high speed — from a power tool, grinder, or hammering metal on metal.
Any change in vision: blurring, double vision, flashes, new floaters, or a shadow over part of your sight.
Severe eye pain, sensitivity to light, or a headache.
Feeling or being sick after an eye injury.
Being unable to move the eye or keep it open, or blood or pus coming from it.
A cut eyelid, blood in the clear part of the eye, or an oddly shaped pupil.

Same-day urgent care

A feeling that something is still in the eye after rinsing.
A scratch from a child's fingernail, a branch or paper, with pain and watering.
Any eye injury in a child, or an injury that isn't better after 24 hours.

Home care is usually fine

Shampoo, soap or dust that has rinsed out, with normal vision and pain that is settling.
Bruising around the eye after a light knock, with no pain in the eye itself and no change in vision.

What happens when you come in

For a chemical burn, rinsing continues as soon as you arrive. The doctor checks your vision and the surface of the eye and looks for anything stuck or any scratch. Depending on what they find, the doctor treats you or arranges an immediate referral to an eye specialist if you need one. For minor injuries, urgent care sees walk-ins around the clock; for serious ones, come straight to the emergency department. If you're unsure, see our guide to ER vs urgent care.

If the eye injury comes with a cut to the eyelid or eyebrow, our guide does my cut need stitches? explains when a wound needs closing — but cuts to the eyelid itself always need to be seen.

Prevention: protective glasses save sight

Wear safety glasses for grinders, drills and hammering, and when mixing cement or lime.
Wear glasses and gloves with oven and drain cleaners, and never mix bleach with other cleaners.
Keep cleaning products in their original containers, out of children's reach.
Keep children away from fireworks and pellet guns.

Eye injury right now?

For a chemical: start rinsing now and keep going on the way. For something stuck in the eye: don't touch it, cover the eye and come in. Emergency Plus in Dabouq, Amman is open 24/7 with board-certified emergency physicians in the building around the clock. For a severe injury, call 911 and don't drive yourself.

Call us 24/7: +962 79 247 1313

Sources

Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you think you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. Emergency Plus in Dabouq, Amman is open 24/7 — +962 79 247 1313.