If there’s one thing universal that everyone can agree on, it’s that an eyelash in your eye is incredibly irritating and uncomfortable. Blink once, blink twice, and it’s still there!
Sometimes, that stubborn eyelash won’t come out on its own, and you’ll have to help it along. Wondering how to get an eyelash out of eye? Here are six tips to try!
Option 1: The Blink and Tears Method
This is one of the simplest methods to try. Heck, you might already be doing it involuntarily when you get an eyelash in your eye.
The idea is to let your eye flush out the foreign object the way it knows how. Blinking and tears are natural reflexes when you feel discomfort and irritation. Blinking moves the eyelash around, which then produces tears. Once the eyelash is positioned at the edge of your eyes, your tears will often flush it out.
Option 2: Hands-On Gentle Rubbing Method
If blinking fails, you can go in with your hands—but not directly, of course. Instead, you’re going to go through your eyelid.
First, make sure to thoroughly clean your hands. Then, close your eyes and gently rub your eyelid. Try to move the wayward eyelash toward the edge of your eye. Once there, your tears will flush it out.
Avoid pressing too hard. Likewise, be careful not to touch your eyeball directly. The idea is to gently coax the eyelash by rubbing the eyelid.
Option 3: The Wet Cotton Swab Technique
Warning: This is a direct-to-the-eyeball technique. It’s not for the squeamish.
Slightly wet a cotton swab with a sterile saline solution or artificial tears eyedrop. Don’t use tap water as this is not sterile.
Place the wet swab over the eyelash gently and carefully. The idea is to have the eyelash latch onto the swab.
Again, do this gently—do not rub the swab on your eyeball as if you’re cleaning your ears! Light dabs will do. With some luck, the swab will snatch the eyelash right out of your eye.
Option 4: Artificial Tears or Eye Drops
This works like tears would. Lubricate your eyes with a few drops of artificial tears. The added moisture will flush out the eyelash. Of course, read and follow the eye drop instructions also.
Option 5: The Eyelid Lift Combo Method (Practice With Caution!)
If you can’t see the bothersome eyelash, it could be lodged way up your eyeball. Try to lift your eyelid to see where it is exactly.
Then, combine this with any of the methods mentioned above. The wet cotton swatch technique and the eye drops technique are both worth trying for trickily-placed eyelashes.
Again, be very careful when you do this. You don’t want to accidentally scratch your cornea. You should have a clear visual of the pesky eyelash. If not, use a magnifying mirror to get a clearer view.
If you feel any resistance or discomfort, stop immediately and consult with a professional.
Option 6: Professional Help
If all else fails and you still have an eyelash in your eye, or if you suddenly feel symptoms of infection and irritation, book an appointment with your eye doctor. They have specialized tools to get that troublesome eyelash out.
How to Get Eyelash Out of Eye: Important Considerations
Hygiene First
Whatever you try to dislodge that eyelash from your eye, remember to do so with cleanliness in mind. This means always wash your hands thoroughly first. And don’t touch your eyeballs using dirty or unsterile objects.
Using unclean hands and objects on your eyes can introduce contaminants that may lead to eye infection. Watch out for symptoms, such as redness, swelling, discharge, and persistent pain.
Know Potential Worst-Case Scenarios
There are conditions far worse than an eyelash in your eye. Be aware of these scenarios as you deal with those nuisance eyelashes:
Prolonged Discomfort
If the eyelash remains stuck for an extended period, it can cause prolonged discomfort and irritation. This can lead to excessive tearing, redness, and a gritty sensation in your eye.
Corneal Scratches
If your approach to getting the eyelash out is too rough, you might end up with corneal scratches. This can cause redness, pain, and light sensitivity.
Vision Problems
In rare cases, an overstaying eyelash can cause significant irritation, which can then lead to more severe damage. This ranges from blurry vision to other vision problems, such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), keratitis, or eyelid cellulitis. Hopefully, these are only temporary and can be resolved once the eyelash is taken out.
TL;DR Summary
Most eyelash-in-the-eye cases can be resolved easily with gentle methods. Just be patient, and good luck!
- The Blink and Tears Method is the eye’s natural reflex when there’s a foreign object.
- Try coaxing the eyelash toward the edge of the eye by gently rubbing over your eyelid. Your tears will then flush it out.
- You could also use the Wet Cotton Swab Method. Wet the swab with a sterile solution and gently dab it over the wayward eyelash.
- You can also use additional moisture from artificial tears/eye drops to flush out the foreign object.
- Seek professional help if you still can’t get the eyelash out. An eyelash staying in your eye for long periods can cause irritation, discomfort, or worse.
