Do not rub - that is the one rule that matters most, because rubbing grinds the particle across the cornea. Instead: flush the eye with clean water or saline, blink repeatedly, and pull the upper eyelid out and over the lower one so lashes can sweep the particle free.
Step by step: wash your hands first. Flush - lean over a sink and run lukewarm water into the eye, or pour saline/clean water from a glass, keeping the eye open as best you can for several minutes; for chemicals, flush 15+ minutes and skip everything else on this list. Try the lid trick: pull the upper lid down over the lower lid and roll your eye - the lower lashes sweep the underside of the upper lid, where particles love to hide. Look for it: pull the lower lid down and check; a visible speck on the white can be lifted with the damp corner of a clean tissue - never from the cornea (the clear center). The common trap: it still feels like something is there after it is out - a scratched cornea keeps that gritty feeling for up to 24 hours while it heals, which is normal. Never: rub, use tweezers, poke at the cornea, or try to remove anything embedded in the eye. Get care now for: anything stuck IN the eye (embedded), chemicals (after flushing, go), vision changes, pain that worsens instead of fading, light sensitivity, or a gritty feeling past 24 hours - corneal abrasions occasionally need antibiotic drops to prevent infection. Emergencies skip this list: chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke signs, severe bleeding, or thoughts of self-harm mean call 911, or 988 for a mental health crisis in the US.
What to do
Common questions
Why does my eye still feel like something's in it after I got it out?
Because the particle probably scratched the cornea on its way around, and a corneal abrasion feels exactly like the original object - gritty, stinging, tearing. The good news: corneas are among the fastest-healing tissue in the body, and small abrasions close within 24 to 48 hours. During that time: no rubbing, no contacts, artificial tears for comfort. If the gritty feeling is not clearly improving after 24 hours, or pain and light sensitivity are increasing, get it looked at - abrasions occasionally need antibiotic drops.
I got a chemical in my eye - what's the procedure?
Flush immediately, before anything else - 15 to 20 minutes of continuous clean water (shower, faucet, hose - speed beats elegance), holding the eyelids open. Do not neutralize one chemical with another, do not bandage the eye, and remove contacts during flushing if they come out easily. Then seek care - bring the product's label; alkalis (cleaners, drain openers, cement) are the most dangerous category, but any chemical exposure warrants an eye exam after flushing.
What if it's something sharp, or it went into the eye itself?
Anything embedded - metal fragment, glass, a shard from grinding or hammering - is do-not-touch territory: no flushing pressure, no removal attempts, no rubbing. Shield the eye loosely (the classic trick: tape a paper cup over it so nothing contacts the surface), keep both eyes still (the injured eye moves with the good one), and get to an ER. Metal fragments from grinding or drilling deserve special suspicion - they can penetrate with surprisingly little drama.
Can I wear my contacts again after something was in my eye?
Not until the eye is completely back to normal - no redness, no gritty feeling, no tearing - usually 24 to 48 hours after a minor incident. Lenses over a healing abrasion trap bacteria against damaged tissue, which is exactly how corneal ulcers start. When you do resume: fresh lenses if the old pair was in during the incident, and back off immediately if any irritation returns. Emergencies skip this list: chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke signs, severe bleeding, or thoughts of self-harm mean call 911, or 988 for a mental health crisis in the US.