The eye is delicate, and even an injury that looks minor deserves careful handling, since mishandling it in the first few minutes can turn a recoverable injury into permanent vision loss. A surprising number of common first aid instincts, like trying to remove something stuck in the eye, are actually the wrong move.
Penetrating Eye Injury
When something has penetrated the eye, the contents inside are extremely vulnerable to infection and further damage from any pressure or movement.
- Do not remove the penetrating object under any circumstances.
- Do not force the eyelid open, evert the eyelid, or apply any ointment or eye drops.
- Gently lay the patient flat, with pillow support, and keep the injured eye still.
- Provide emotional support, since patients are often understandably frightened, and reassure them while arranging urgent transport to medical care.
Foreign Bodies in the Eye
Most foreign bodies in the eye can be removed safely, but the technique matters. Never allow the patient to rub the eye, as this can scratch the cornea and drive the particle in deeper.
- Sit the patient facing a light source and gently look for the particle by asking them to look in different directions.
- If you can see it on the white of the eye or under the lower eyelid, try to lift it away with the corner of a clean, moistened cloth or cotton bud, or gently flush it out with clean water or a balanced saline solution.
- To check under the upper eyelid, gently grasp the lashes, press a cotton bud against the base of the eyelid, and fold the lid back over it to look underneath, then sweep the particle away with a moist cotton bud if visible.
- If the particle sits over the coloured part of the eye, the cornea, only irrigate rather than trying to lift it out directly, since this area is especially easy to scratch.
If you cannot locate or remove the foreign body after a reasonable attempt, stop trying and seek medical care rather than persisting, since repeated attempts increase the risk of scratching the surface of the eye.
Bleeding or Direct Blows to the Eye
A direct blow, such as from a ball or a squash ball sized object, can cause serious internal damage even without any visible cut, because the eye can be compressed sharply against the bony socket. Sit or lie the patient down, place an unmedicated eye pad gently over the affected eye, secure it with tape, and advise them not to move the eye more than necessary, since eye movement is linked between both eyes and moving the uninjured one can drag the injured one along with it. Seek urgent medical assessment for any closed eye injury from a direct blow, since damage is not always visible from the outside.
Contact Lenses
Contact lenses can trap chemicals or foreign material against the eye’s surface, so if a person wearing lenses experiences a chemical injury, remove the lenses yourself if the wearer cannot easily do it themselves, before beginning first aid management. Do not delay treatment trying to remove a lens if it is proving difficult, since getting chemical irrigation started is more urgent.
A General Principle Worth Remembering
You are only ever one eye injury away from significant, permanent vision impairment. This is not meant to alarm, but to explain why first aid for the eye leans so heavily toward caution: do not remove objects, do not rub, do not apply pressure, and seek medical assessment readily, since the cost of being overly cautious is far lower than the cost of getting it wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you try to remove an object that has penetrated the eye?
No. Never remove a penetrating object. Keep the eye still, support the patient, and get them to medical care urgently.
What should you do if you cannot find or remove a foreign body in someone’s eye?
Stop attempting removal and seek medical care rather than continuing to try, since repeated attempts risk scratching the eye’s surface.
Why should both eyes be kept still after an eye injury?
Eye movements are linked, so moving the uninjured eye also moves the injured one, which can worsen the injury.
References and Last Reviewed
- American Academy of Ophthalmology, Eye Injury First Aid Guidance
- American Heart Association, Guidelines for First Aid
Jurisdiction: General first aid guidance, internationally applicable.
Last technically reviewed: September 2026
Reviewed by: EHS Guidelines Editorial Team
This article is educational and does not replace accredited first aid training or professional medical care. Seek urgent medical assessment for any significant eye injury.
Related Guides
- Airway Management: How to Open, Clear and Protect an Airway
- Chemical and Heat Burns to the Eye, Welder’s Flash and Snow Blindness
- Checking a Pulse: Carotid and Radial Technique Explained
- Two Person CPR and How to Change Over Between Rescuers
- First Aid for Wounds: A Wide-ranging Guide
- First Aid: Bleeding Type Treatment and Precaution
Be the first to comment