When to worry about red eye with a foreign body

Dust, an eyelash, grit, or a small particle can irritate the conjunctiva and cause watering, blinking, scratchiness, and redness. A particle trapped beneath an eyelid may continue to scrape the surface each time you blink.

A high-speed fragment, sharp object, or embedded material can damage the cornea or deeper structures. Do not assume a mild-looking eye is unharmed if sight is affected or pain persists after rinsing.

Wash your hands, remove contact lenses if they come out easily, and rinse the eye with clean lukewarm water or sterile saline. Blink several times while rinsing. Do not rub, tweeze, or press on the eye.

Do not try to remove an object that is stuck, and do not place a patch over the eye. Avoid driving if vision is blurred. Keep any protective eyewear or the object details available for the clinician.

Get same-day eye assessment if rinsing does not relieve the gritty feeling, redness, or watering, or if the object may be metal, glass, or wood. Contact-lens wear with pain or redness also warrants prompt review.

Go to emergency care for a penetrating injury, a high-speed impact, severe pain, new double vision, reduced vision, strong light sensitivity, bleeding, or an object visibly embedded in the eye. Chemical splashes require immediate, continuous rinsing while help is arranged.

Could the cornea be scratched? Is anything still trapped under the eyelid? When is it safe to use contact lenses, work at a screen, or return to driving?