How to Remove a Speck From Your Eye

If an object is floating on your eye or inside the lid, follow these steps to get relief. Always seek medical help immediately if you're dealing with an object that's stuck or embedded in an eye.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mirror
• Soap
• Cotton Swab
• Medicine Dropper Or Small Pitcher
• Soap
• Tissue

1. Wash your hands with soap and water before you touch any part of the eye. Resist rubbing it, no matter how much it may itch.

2. Grab your upper lashes and gently pull your upper lid down over your lower lid. This will cause tears to form, which may flush the object out.

3. Tilt your head to the side over a sink and use a medicine dropper or small pitcher to pour a tiny stream of warm water into your eye to flush out the speck.

4. If the particle is not flushed out, go to a well-lit mirror and pull down the lower lid with your finger. If you spot the offending object, gently remove it with a clean tissue or swab.

5. If the object is under your upper lid, elicit the help of a friend. Look down while your friend lifts up the upper lid by the lashes. Place a cotton swab behind the lid and flip the lid backward over the swab. Hold the swab in place while your friend carefully removes the object with a clean tissue or swab.

Tips & Warnings

• If your removal efforts irritate the eye, give it a rest. Often your eye will work the speck out on its own.
• If the eye is very irritated or you are unable to remove the object, seek medical help.

on 7/28/2006 Roll a Kleenex between your fingers, just a small square of it, into a thin, thin point, wet it slightly, use it to poke out the spec (good for getting out specs of waterproof eyeliner that get stuck in your lower lid).

on 11/22/2005 A less intrusive way of removing foreign particles from your eye would be to use an over-the-counter eye wash solution (available in most department stores and pharmacies) and the enclosed eye-cup. If you don't have any on hand, you can use a small, disposable cup (5 ounce size usually works best) and fill it with water:

Fill the cup to the very brim, then lower your eye to the cup, immersing your eye into the water. Blink a few times, and move your eye around, looking left, right, up, and down. Then, carefully remove your eye from the cup (make sure you're doing this over a sink) and blink a few more times to remove the excess water. Blot around the eye area with a soft towel to dry your face. Using an eye-wash in this manner can also allow you to see if the speck has been removed. Repeat as necessary.

on 11/22/2005 If you have something in your eye, close your eye. Keep your eye closed, and in anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes, your eye will naturally wash the speck from your eye.