Flushing Foreign Body from Eye

Treatment for Numerous Particles (such as dirt or sand)

• Clean around the eye with a wet washcloth first.
• Place your eye under a gently running faucet or a shower. Hold the eyelid open while you do this.
• Or, try to open and close the eye repeatedly while submerging that side of the face in a pan of water.

Foreign Body in Corner of Eye

 

Treatment for a Particle in a Corner of the Eye

• Try to get it out with a moistened cotton swab or the corner of a moistened cloth.

Foreign Body in Eye

Treatment for a particle under the upper lid:

• If particle cannot be seen, it's probably under the upper lid, the most common hiding place.
• Try to open and close the eye several times while it is submerged in a pan or bowl of water.
• If this fails, pull the upper lid out and draw it over the lower lid. This maneuver and tears will sometimes dislodge the particle.

Foreign Body Under Lower Lid

Treatment for a Particle Under the Lower Lid:

• Pull the lower lid out by depressing the skin above the cheekbone.
• Touch the particle with a moistened cotton swab.
• If that does not work, try pouring water on the speck while pulling the lower lid out.

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