Help: My child has something stuck in their eye!

Is your child complaining that their eye is sore and scratchy? Small objects, such as grains of sand, an eyelash or even an insect, can easily find their way into an eye. Tears typically wash these objects away. However, even a minuscule speck can leave a scrape on the eye’s surface (cornea).

It can feel like something is still in the eye if the eye’s surface is scratched. The majority of minor abrasions are self-healing and take only a few days to disappear.

What at-home treatment options should you turn to?

If your child has something stuck in their eye, follow these expert tips:

• Do not allow your child to rub the sore eye.
• If your child is in pain, give them an over-the-counter pain reliever suitable for children. Pay close attention to the label’s directions. Remember that aspirin isn’t safe for children, and can cause an illness known as Reye syndrome, so opt for paracetamol based pain relievers instead.
• Before you touch your child’s eye, wash your hands.
• If the particle is behind your child’s upper eyelid, pull the upper lid out and over the lower lid and encourage your child to roll their eye upward. This can help get the particle to come off the upper lid and flush it out of the eye.
• If the object is in the corner of your child’s eye or under their lower eyelid, remove it with a wet cotton swab or the corner of a clean cloth while holding the lower lid open.
• You can pour lukewarm water into your child’s eye or hold your child’s eye under a faucet to flush the object out of the eye.
• Administering child-friendly eye drops can also help dislodge any objects stuck in the eye.

How to put eye drops or ointment in your child’s eyes

• Slightly raise your child’s lower eyelid by holding it with one finger while you tilt their head back.
• Put a few drops or squirts of medicine in the lower lid.
• Let the drops or ointment swirl around for 30 to 60 seconds while your child closes their eyes.
• When using an eyedropper, avoid touching the ointment to your eyelashes or any other surface.
• Use eye drops or ointment exactly as the label specifies. Make sure the tip of the dropper or bottle is free of any residue. Ask another adult to assist you in administering eye drops or ointment to a small child.