The foreign body in the eye is mostly pollen, midges and grains of sand. They usually fall into the eye when we are outside. Then it is worth knowing how to remove the foreign body from the eye, especially if it is in the child's eye. Worse, if there is a large foreign body in the eye - then a doctor's intervention is necessary. Check how to remove a foreign body from the eye. What is first aid for foreign bodies in the eye?

Foreign body in the eyeis mostly pollen, small midges, sand and eyelashes that irritate the conjunctiva. When a foreign body comes into contact with the eye, it starts to water - this is a protective reaction. The tears contain antibodies that inactivate bacteria located in foreign bodies. In addition, thanks to tears, particles in the eye have a chance to leak out from the corner of the eye. Otherwise, the foreign body must be removed from the eye yourself.

Foreign body in the eye: symptoms

The result of foreign body irritation of the conjunctiva is:

  • pain
  • baking
  • redness
  • tearing one eye
  • need to blink continuously

These symptoms indicate the presence of a foreign body in the eye. You should pay special attention to them in young children.

Also read: When EYES BUR, ITCH and PINK, artificial tears will bring relief

Foreign body in the eye - first aid. How to remove a foreign body from the eye?

Wash your hands thoroughly. Use your fingertips to grasp the eyelashes of the upper eyelid. Then tilt it and pull it towards the bottom. As a consequence the eye tears much more, which should cause the foreign body to ooze out on its own.

If this method is unsuccessful, check to see if the foreign body is stuck under the upper or lower eyelid. To do this, gently fold the upper eyelid and look down. If nothing is there, look up and check the bottom of your eyeball.

If a foreign body is visible on the white part of the eye, use the tip of a clean tissue or a moistened cotton bud to gently move it towards the corner of the eye until it is outside the eye area.Removing the foreign body from the eyeshould bring you immediate relief.

If you are at home, rinse your eyes with lukewarm, boiled water or saline. A standard glass can be used to rinse the eye.

Don't do that
  • Under noneseemingly do not rub the eyelid - this way you can rub the foreign body deep into the eye, which may result in the expansion of inflammation. In this case, the risk of infection also increases.
  • Do not use hard or sharp tools to remove foreign matter from the eye.
  • Do not use any drops to make the eye tear and cleanse.
  • Do not try to remove any foreign objects that look like they are stuck in the eyeball, on the iris of the eye, stuck in the eye (e.g. a splinter or a shard of glass).

You should see a doctor as soon as possible.

Foreign body in the eye - when to see a doctor?

When you try to remove a foreign body from your eye unsuccessfully or you cannot see it at all, and you feel that you have something in your eye, go to an ophthalmologist or an emergency room as soon as possible. Protect the previously irritated eye with a sterile gauze dressing and a bandage - thanks to this, the eyelid will not move and additionally irritate the eye.

The surgeon's intervention is also necessary when you have the impression that the object has stuck into the cornea. Do not move both eyes then, just bandage them. The movement of the he althy eye is related to the movement of the sick eye, which exacerbates the trauma. Ask a loved one to come with you to the emergency room.

People who have a large foreign body stuck in their eyes should also attend the emergency ophthalmology service. Then it is also necessary to bandage both the he althy and the diseased eye.

Read also: Swollen eyes: causes. What are the causes of eyelid edema?

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