We’ve all had something caught in our eye that we struggled to let loose. If you’re lucky, that’s the worse eye injury you’ll ever experience. But accidents happen, and when they do, it’s helpful to know how to protect your eyes from serious injury. At Family Vision Center in Bridgeport, CT, our optometrists have more than 50 years of experience providing high-quality eye care.

We’ve encountered numerous eye injuries, and have some first-aid tips for the most common ailments.

FOREIGN OBJECT IN THE EYE

If you have something in your eye, whether it’s a piece of dirt or an eyelash, don’t rub it. You might end up damaging your cornea. First, wash your hands. If you see the object, you can try to remove it using damp cotton swab or washcloth. If this doesn’t work, try to flush it out with your tears. To stimulate tears, pull your upper eyelid down over your lower eyelid, and blink repeatedly. If that doesn’t work either, rinse your eyes with water. When you have objects embedded in your eye, go to an emergency optometrist immediately

BLOW TO THE EYE

If you get hit in the eye, gently apply a cold compress without putting any pressure. Keep your head elevated to reduce swelling, and take Tylenol® or Advil® to ease pain. If you notice a change in your vision or the pain doesn’t subside, see an optometrist right away.

CHEMICAL EXPOSURE

If you get chemicals in your eyes and you’re wearing contacts, immediately remove them. Then flush out your eye with water. Chemicals cause serious damage and pain to your eye, so rinse it for at least 15 minutes. After you’ve rinsed it out, don’t cover or bandage your eye, and go to an emergency room immediately.

EYE CUT

If your eye or eyelid has been cut, see an eye doctor as soon as possible. To protect your eye on the way to the optometrist’s office, gently cover it with a rigid circular object — the bottom of a paper cup would work. Don’t rub or put pressure on your eye.

The best way to keep your eyes protected is to wear eyeglasses. Family Vision Center offers a wide variety of eye care products to keep your eyes safe. If you do sustain an eye injury, make an appointment with them to make sure everything is OK. For more information about their office, visit their website or call (203) 333-2020.