Some Basics...

• Foreign bodies in the eye need to be removed. They can damage the eye. Sometimes a doctor will need to remove the object.
• Objects that often get in the eye are eyelashes or a piece of dried mucus. Sand, dirt, sawdust, or grit can be blown into the eyes. Tree and plant pollen can also get blown into the eyes.
• A contact lens cannot go behind the eyeball. It can sometimes get hidden under the upper or lower eyelid.
• Avoid rubbing the eye. This can lead to the foreign object scratching the cornea. This is the clear part in the middle of the eye.

1. What You Should Know:
   • Foreign bodies in the eye need to be removed. They can damage the eye.
   • You can remove small foreign bodies from the eye at home.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Treatment for Many Particles (such as dirt or sand):
   • First, clean around the eye with a wet washcloth.
   • Put your eye and the side of your face in a pan of water. Try to open and close your eye repeatedly while your face is under water.
3. Treatment for a Particle in a Corner of the Eye: Try to get it out. Use a moistened cotton swab (Q-Tip) or the corner of a moistened cloth.
4. Treatment for a Particle Under the Lower Lid:
   • Pull your lower lid out. Do this by pulling down on the skin over the cheek bone.
   • Touch the particle with a moistened cotton swab.
   • If that doesn't work, pull your lower lid out and pour water on the speck.
5. Treatment for a Particle Under the Upper Lid:
   • If you cannot see the particle, it most often is under the upper lid.
   • Put your eye and the side of your face in a pan of water. Try to keep opening and closing your eye while your face is under water.
   • You can also wash your eye under the faucet.
   • If the particle is still there, pull your upper lid out. Draw it over the lower lid. This will sometimes move the particle. The lower eyelashes may sweep the particle from under the upper eyelid.
6. What to Expect: The discomfort, redness, and excessive tearing should go away within 1-2 hours. If it does not go away, you should see a doctor. The FB may still be there or you might have a scratch on your cornea.
7. Contact Lenses: Switch to glasses for a short time. This will help stop damage to your eye.
8. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Feeling of "grittiness" or pain in your eye (not all of the FB has gotten out)
   • Eyesight does not return to normal after washing eye
   • Tearing and blinking even after FB removed
   • You get worse

1. What You Should Know:
   • A contact lens cannot go behind the eyeball. It can sometimes get hidden under the upper or lower eyelid.
   • You can take out a hidden contact at home.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Wash Your Hands: First, wash your hands with soap and water.
3. Wet the Contact Lens:
   • Put several drops of saline into your eye.
   • You may need to repeat this in 5 minutes. It will help to hydrate soft contacts. It will also help float both soft and hard contacts.
4. Taking Out a Soft Contact Lens:
   • Look upwards.
   • Pull down your lower eyelid with your middle finger.
   • Touch contact lens with your index finger. Slide it downwards to the lower white part of your eye.
   • Gently pinch the contact lens between your thumb and index finger. Remove it from your eye.
5. Taking Out a Hard Contact Lens - Blink Method:
   • Pull outwards on the skin at the corner of the eye. Use your right index finger for right eye. Use your left index finger for left eye.
   • Cup your other hand under the eye to catch the contact lens.
   • Blink a few times.
6. Taking Out a Hard Contact Lens - Plunger Method:
   • Use a "plunger" to remove a contact lens.
   • If you do not have one, you can get one at a drugstore. This is a small flexible plastic tool that has a suction cup on it.
7. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Cannot remove the contact lens
   • Pain or feeling of FB in eye lasts more than 2 hours after taking out the contact
   • You get worse