Symptoms: Foreign objects in the eye usually don’t go unnoticed for very long. You’ll typically feel the pressure or discomfort of something in your eye immediately. You may also experience other symptoms, including pain, redness, tearing, light sensitivity, and excessive blinking.
Home Treatment: Start by blinking your eyes quickly, allowing
tears to wash the object out. You might also want to help your natural tears along with saline or artificial tears. If this still doesn’t work, wash your hands and find an area with good lighting. If the foreign object is under the upper eyelid, try immersing your eye in water, opening and closing it to flush out the object. Visible objects under the lower eyelid can often be removed by a gentle tap with a damp cotton swab. Others may need to be flushed with flowing water.
Seeing an Eye Doctor: If you can’t remove the foreign object on your own, it's time to visit your eye doctor. Sometimes, foreign objects also cause damage lasting beyond their removal. Blurred or abnormal vision, persistent symptoms, or worsening condition after the foreign object is removed are all signs it’s time for a visit to the optometrist. Your eye doctor will conduct a careful eye exam to locate and remove remaining objects. They’ll also treat any corneal abrasions, both to reduce pain and prevent possible infection.
With nineteen convenient locations, Thoma & Sutton Eye Care makes it easy to find a great optometrist when you need one, whether for an emergency foreign object removal or a routine eye exam. Visit their website to find an eye doctor near you, or call (513) 914-4499 to schedule an appointment today.