Eye injuries
Minor eye injuries, such as shampoo or dust in your eye, often get better on their own within a day. Get medical help if you have a chemical in your eye or something pierces it.
How to treat an eye injury at home
Do
- wash your eye with clean water if there's something in it
- follow the advice on the packaging if any cosmetics or household products get in your eyes
- take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen to help ease any pain or discomfort
Don't
- do not try to remove any object that's pierced your eye
- do not touch or rub your eye until it's better
- do not wear make-up around your eye until it's better
- do not wear contact lenses until your eye is better
How to wash your eye
You should:
- use clean water (not hot) – this can be from a tap, shower or bottled water if you’re not at home
- hold your eye open
- run lots of water over your eyeball for at least 20 minutes
Make sure the flow of water is not too strong.
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