Eyelashes help to protect your eye from getting damaged from dust and debris, but sometimes eyelashes themselves can cause problems. Having your eyelash fall into your eye is an irritating and upsetting experience, and removing it can be dangerous to your vision if done incorrectly. If you have an eyelash stuck in your eye or just want to know what to do the next time it happens, keep reading.
Don't Rub, Don't Touch
The first thing you should know is that you should never attempt to rub your eye or touch the eyelash if there's an eyelash stuck on your eye. It can be tempting to just tap your eye and try to remove the lash, but you could potentially scratch your eye. In addition, you increase your risk of introducing the bacteria on your hands into your eyes, which could cause serious problems in the future. Instead, follow the next few steps.
Locate Eyelash
To begin the process of removing your eyelash, you need to first locate it on your eye. You can pull your eyelids apart to look at the eye in its entirety. Keep in mind that sometimes where you are feeling irritation isn't where the eyelash currently is. Look from left to right to examine all of the eye and see if you can find the lash. If you find it, proceed to the next step. If it's not visible or you notice another problem, like a scratch or cut, visit an eye doctor right away.
Wash Out with Water or Saline Fluid
Now that you know where the eyelash is, you're ready to get it out of your eye. For this step, you can either use water from the faucet or use a bottle of clean saline solution that's intended for flushing out eyes. Saline is gentler, but if you don't have any, the water from the faucet will be fine.
If you have a bottle of saline, tip your head back and aim the bottle for where you saw the eyelash. Pull your closest eyelid out of the way so the eyelash doesn't get stuck there while you're trying to flush it out. Repeat this process until the eyelash is gone.
If you're using water, clean your hands thoroughly first, and then cup the water in your hand and blink your eye into the cup of water repeatedly. Examine your eye periodically to see if the lash is gone.
See an Eye Doctor
If you can't remove the lash or there is no eyelash present and you're still experiencing discomfort, visit an eye doctor. There may be an injury to your eye or another underlying problem that needs medical attention.
Share24 April 2017
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