How To Flush Your Eye: Safety, Tips, And First Aid - Medical News Today

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How to safely flush your eye

Written by Ann Marie Griff, O.D. on April 26, 2018

What to do
Safety tips
Eye first aid
Emergency care
Outlook

When chemicals splash into an eye or a foreign object gets stuck in one, it is crucial to act fast. In most cases, a person should flush the area as quickly as possible.

Dirt, grit, dust, and other stray particles should all be flushed from the eyes, as should chemicals and bodily fluids, such as blood.

While flushing the eye, a person should have someone call emergency services or prepare to take them to receive immediate medical attention.

In this article, learn how to flush the eyes without causing further damage and what symptoms may indicate a medical emergency.

What to do

An eyewash station to flush your eye — Some workplaces have a special eyewash station.

The following are step-by-step instructions on how to flush the eye:

Recognize the foreign object: The object in the eye may be so small that a person does not notice it. Symptoms can include redness, itchiness, pain, and other types of irritation. If a person is splashed with a bodily fluid or chemical, they should flush their eye as quickly as possible.
Identify the necessary materials: An emergency eyewash solution may be nearby, especially if a person is in a lab or kitchen. These solutions can be purchased online. If one is not available, a person can use clean, debris-free water from a tap, hose, or shower. Some workplaces, schools, and hospitals have eyewash stations.
Remove contact lenses. If possible, do this before flushing the eye. Otherwise, a contact lens could trap chemicals or debris, making symptoms worse.
Find the correct position. Begin by tilting the head down, with the affected eye at the lowest point. This prevents materials from spreading to the opposite eye. The water or solution should flow from the inner eye to the outer corner.
Flush the eye. Use the fluid for 10 to 15 minutes. Keep the eye open for as long as possible, allowing the fluid to travel across the eye. Look up, down, and to the sides, while flushing the eye, to ensure that no chemicals or debris are trapped under the eyelids. The fluid’s pressure should be steady but not so strong that it hurts the eye.

A person will likely get wet while flushing their eye. If someone else is present, it may be helpful to hand the person flushing a towel or garbage bag to keep the wetness away.

Safety tips

After a person has flushed their eye, they should seek immediate medical attention. If chemicals were the cause, they should bring a sample to the doctor for identification.

A person may need to flush their eye for longer, depending on the type of chemical involved. Flushing times for specific chemicals include:

15 to 20 minutes for moderate-to-severe irritants and chemicals that can cause acute toxicity when absorbed by the skin, such as acetic acid, bleach, and formaldehyde
30 minutes for most corrosive chemicals, such as sulfuric acid
60 minutes for strong alkaline materials, such as sodium, potassium, or calcium hydroxide

Oven and drain cleaners are also highly alkaline, and a person may need to flush their eye for hours to prevent the surface of the eye from becoming burned.

Eye first aid

If any material has penetrated the eyeball, flushing the eye can cause further damage.

In this case, seek emergency medical attention and protect the eye by covering it with a gauze pad or Styrofoam cup.

Refrain from rubbing the eyes, even if they are itchy or painful, as this can push the object deeper into the eye.

When to seek emergency care

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A person should avoid rubbing their eyes.

Anyone who has sustained an eye injury should seek emergency medical attention, even if the area no longer hurts after flushing.

The following symptoms also require emergency medical attention when they follow an eye injury:

double vision and other changes in vision
eye swelling
a headache
severe pain in the eye

Contact emergency services if metal, glass, or another object is protruding from the eye.

Outlook

Anyone who works with tools, chemicals, or around bodily fluids should always wear eye protection. If an injury occurs, a person should flush their eye as soon as possible for at least 15 minutes.

After flushing the eye, contact emergency services or find a ride to a hospital. This is especially important when the eye has been exposed to chemicals.

Emergency Medicine
Eye Health / Blindness
First Aid

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

First aid for chemical exposures. (2018, April 12)https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/firstaid.html
Palmer, J. (2010, April 16). Ask the expert: Flush time for exposure to eyeshttp://blogs.hcpro.com/osha/2010/04/ask-the-expert-flush-time-for-exposure-to-eyes/
Shetler, J,. & Lighthizer, N. (2015, January 15). Foreign body removal in 12 steps. Review of Optometryhttps://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/foreign-body-removal-in-12-steps

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Written by Ann Marie Griff, O.D. on April 26, 2018

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