It's not uncommon for a speck of dirt or a small object, such as an eyelash or makeup, to get in your eye. Usually your natural tears will wash the object out. Objects may scratch the surface of the eye (cornea) or may become stuck on the eye. If the cornea is scratched, it can be hard to tell when you have gotten the object out, because a scratched cornea may feel painful and as though something is still in the eye. Most corneal scratches are minor and heal on their own in 1 or 2 days.

See a picture of the eye.

Small objects traveling at high speed or sharp objects traveling at any speed can cause serious injury to many parts of the eyeball. Injury may cause bleeding, a change in the size or shape of the pupil, a film over the eye lens, or damage to the inside of the eyeball. These objects may become embedded deep in the eye and may require medical treatment.

Objects in the eye can be prevented by using protective eyewear. Wear safety glasses, goggles, or face shields when working with power tools or chemicals or doing any activity that might cause an object or substance to get into your eyes. Some professions, such as health care and construction, may require workers to use protective eyewear to reduce the risk of foreign objects or substances or body fluids getting in the eyes.

For information about other types of eye injuries, such as blows to the eye, see the topic Eye Injuries.

Review the Emergencies and Check Your Symptoms sections to determine if and when you need to see a doctor.

Emergencies

Do you have any of the following symptoms that require emergency treatment? Call 911 or other emergency services immediately.

• An object has punctured and penetrated the eye. Note: Do not bandage or put any pressure on the eye. If an object has penetrated the eyeball, hold the object in place to prevent further movement and injury to the eye.
• An eyeball is bulging out of its socket after an injury.
• Sudden partial or complete vision loss has occurred after an injury. Note: Treatment is needed within 90 minutes to save vision.

Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.

• A liquid or solid chemical in your eye: Go to the topic Burns to the Eye.

Yes

Do you have an object in your eye? If the object hit your eye at high speed or is a piece of metal, do not try to remove it.

See significance of an object in the eye if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Did an object hit your eye at high speed? Note: This increases your risk of serious injury to your eye. Even if symptoms appear minor, your eye should be evaluated by a doctor.

Yes

Do you have a loss of vision that is more than mild blurring?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have a piece of metal on the surface of your eye?

Yes

Do you have mild blurred vision that does not clear by blinking your eye?

Yes

Is your eye still painful or scratchy for 12 hours or longer after removing an object and using home treatment? Note: Put on dark glasses. Do not bandage or put pressure on the eye. Do not use any nonprescription eyedrops in the eye.

Yes

Are you unable to remove an object from the surface of your eye with home treatment measures?

Yes

Have you had pain in or around your eye, tearing, and swelling for longer than 30 minutes?

Yes

Do you have a feeling that something is in your eye (foreign body sensation) or a feeling of sand in your eye when you blink?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Have you had pain, redness, swelling, sensitivity to light, or a change in vision for 24 hours or longer after removing an object from your eye?

Note:

If you are not 100% better 24 hours after an object has been removed from your eye, an evaluation by a doctor is needed.

Yes

Have you been unable to remove a contact lens for 24 hours?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Yes

Do you think you have an infection after an eye injury?

See significance of signs of infection if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have diabetes?

Yes

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have pain in your eye?

Yes

Do you feel like you have something in your eye (foreign body sensation)?

Yes

Are your eyes very sensitive to light (photophobia)?

Yes

Do you have a yellow, green, bloody, or watery discharge from your eye?

Yes

Is redness of your eye or eyelids getting worse?

Yes

Do you have a gray or white sore on your eye?

Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever?

Yes

Do you have blurred or decreased vision?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Do you have a small to moderate amount of discharge after 24 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Other Symptoms to Watch For

Do you have any of the following symptoms?

• An eye injury other than an object in the eye: Go to the topic Eye Injuries.
• An eye problem without an eye injury, such as pain, blurred vision, or blood in the eye: Go to the topic Eye Problems, Noninjury.
• Pinkeye: Go to the topic Pinkeye.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

Home Treatment

First aid for objects in the eye

• Don't rub your eye, because this could scratch the outer surface (cornea) of the eye. You may have to keep small children from rubbing their eyes.
• Wash your hands before touching your eye.
• If you wear contact lenses, take the contacts out before trying to remove the object or flush your eye.
• If an object is over the dark center (pupil) of the eye or over the colored part (iris) of the eye, you may try to gently flush it out with water. If the object does not come out with flushing, put on dark glasses, and call your doctor. Do not put any pressure on the eye
• If the object is on the white part (sclera) of the eye or inside the lower lid, wet a cotton swab or the tip of a twisted piece of tissue and touch the end to the object. The object should cling to the swab or tissue. Some minor irritation is common after you have removed the object in this way.
• Gently flush the eye with cool water. A clean eyedropper may help. Many times the object will be under the upper eyelid and can be removed by lifting the upper lid away and flushing gently.
• Do not try to remove a piece of metal, an object that has punctured the eye, or an object stuck on the eye after flushing with water.
• Never use tweezers, toothpicks, or other hard items to remove any object. Using these items could cause eye damage.

If your eye symptoms are not 100% better after 24 hours of home treatment, an evaluation by a doctor is needed.

Eye injury in a child

Applying first aid measures for an eye injury in a child may be difficult depending on the child's age, size, and ability to cooperate. Having another adult help you treat the child is helpful. Stay calm and talk in a soothing voice. Use slow, gentle movements to help the child remain calm and cooperative. A struggling child may need to be held strongly so that first aid can be started and the seriousness of the eye injury assessed.

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment:

• Decreased, double, or blurred vision doesn't clear with blinking.
• Pain increases or continues for more than 24 hours.
• Blood develops over the colored part (iris) of the eye.
• Sensitivity to light (photophobia) develops.
• Signs of infection develop.
• Symptoms become more severe or more frequent.

Prevention

The following tips may help prevent eye injuries.

• Wear safety glasses, goggles, or face shields when you work with power tools or chemicals or do any activity that might cause an object or substance to get into your eyes. Some professions, such as health care and construction, may require workers to use protective eyewear to reduce the risk of foreign objects or substances or body fluids getting in the eyes.
• If you are welding or near someone else who is welding, wear a mask or goggles designed for welding.
• Wear protective eyewear during sports such as baseball, hockey, racquetball, or paintball that involve the risk of a blow to the eye. Fishhook injuries are another common cause of eye injuries. Protective eyewear can prevent sports-related eye injuries more than 90% of the time. An eye examination may be helpful in determining what type of protective eyewear is needed.

Eye injuries are common in children, and many can be prevented. Most eye injuries happen in older children. They occur more often in boys than in girls. Toys—from crayons to toy guns—are a major source of injury, so check all toys for sharp or pointed parts.

Teach children about eye safety:

• Be a good role model—always wear eye protection.
• Get protective eyewear for your children and help them use it properly.
• Teach children that toys that fly should not be pointed at another person.
• Teach children how to properly carry sharp or pointed objects.
• Teach children that any kind of missile, projectile, or BB gun is not a toy.
• Use safety measures near fires and explosives, such as camp fires and fireworks.

Preparing For Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

If you have an object in the eye that affects your vision, have someone else drive you to your doctor. If you are wearing contact lenses, remove them, and take your glasses with you.

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• Do you have an object in your eye? What is the object? When did it get into your eye? Did it fall into your eye, or did it fly into your eye at high speed?
• Do you wear glasses or contacts? Did you remove your contact lens? Has the injury affected your vision (as corrected with glasses or contacts)?
• What kind of vision changes are you having (not related to removing your eyeglasses or contact lenses)?
• What home treatment have you tried? Did it help?
• What prescription and nonprescription medicines have you used? Did they help?
• Do you have any health risks?

Related Information

• Burns to the Eye
• Eye Injuries
• Eye Problems, Noninjury