Eye injuries

Common types of eye injury

Common types of eye injury include:

• blows to the eye – such as being hit by a fist, elbow or ball
• scratches and abrasions – such as from fingernails or tree branches
• foreign bodies – such as small pieces of grit, wood or metal getting in the eye
• penetrating or cutting injuries – such as cuts from glass, or projectiles flung from tools, especially when hammering or using power tools
• chemical burns – such as exposure to household cleaning products
• radiation exposure – such as exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or sun lamps

Wearing contact lenses incorrectly can also injure your eyes, especially if they're dirty, don't fit properly or have been worn for too long.

When to seek medical advice

Minor irritation or injury to the front of the eye usually doesn't need medical treatment. It should clear up within 24 hours.

If you experience discomfort, painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen may help.

Don't touch or rub your eye, apply pressure to it ,or wear contact lenses, until it's fully healed. This is to prevent further damage.

See your optician or GP if:

• you have any concerns about your injury
• it's not better within 24 hours

Flushing your eye

If you have loose particles in your eye, or your eye has been exposed to chemicals, flush it out with an eyewash or plenty of clean water.

You should do this for at least 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contact lenses, remember to remove them before flushing the eye.

You can flush your eyes in the following ways:

• sit down and slant your head so the injured eye is lower than the unaffected eye, ideally over a bath or sink, then use a glass or cupped hand to repeatedly pour water across the eye from the bridge of the nose
• if both eyes are affected, tilt your head back, keeping it level, and use a glass or cupped hand to repeatedly pour water across both eyes from the bridge of the nose
• if you have access to a shower, aim a gentle stream of warm water at your forehead, or just above the affected eye, while holding the affected eye open
• if you're working outside, you can use a garden hose to rinse your eye using a very low flow setting to avoid injury - make sure the water source is clean

All eye injuries caused by chemical exposure should be seen by an eye doctor or nurse as soon as possible after flushing.

You should also seek immediate medical advice if there are still any foreign bodies in the eye after flushing it.

Don't try to remove any objects embedded or stuck in the eye yourself, as this can damage the eye further. These should only be removed by an eye expert.

When to seek immediate medical advice

You should go immediately to your nearest emergency department if you have:

• persistent or severe eye pain
• foreign bodies that can't be washed out
• decreased or double vision
• flashing lights, spots, halos or shadows in your field of vision
• blood visible in your eye
• an irregularly shaped pupil (the black dot at the centre of the eye)
• pain when exposed to bright light
• deep cuts around your eye
• your eye is sticking out of your eye socket

You should also go immediately to your nearest emergency department if your injury was caused by an object flying at speed, for example:

• a projectile flung from an angle grinder
• a very sharp object, such as glass or a knife
• chemical exposure

Flush your eye for at least 10 to 15 minutes before going to an emergency department.

Seeing an eye specialist

Your GP may refer you to an ophthalmologist for further specialist care if your eye hasn't improved after 48 hours, or it's got worse.

You'll be asked how the injury happened. Your vision and eye movements will be checked. The eye will then be examined to find out how severe the injury is.

Preventing eye injuries

Many eye injuries are preventable if you take suitable safety precautions during leisure activities or work. These precautions can include, for example, wearing eye protection when hammering metal and using power tools. 

You should also follow instructions on the safe and hygienic use of contact lenses.

More useful links

• How to use your health services