General Eye Conditions and Tests
It feels like something is in my eye. What is it?
A gritty sensation does not always mean something is in the eye. Dryness, a corneal scratch, an ingrowing lash or inflammation of the lid margin produce the same feeling. If a particle is present it is often under the upper lid. Rinse with clean water or saline, do not rub, and seek examination if the feeling persists beyond a few hours.
What to do straight away
- Do not rub the eye
- Blink repeatedly and let tears wash the particle towards the corner
- Rinse with clean water or sterile saline, or hold the eye open under gently running clean water
- If a chemical has splashed in, irrigate immediately for at least twenty minutes and go for emergency care at once
- Remove contact lenses if you wear them
What never to do
- Do not try to remove anything stuck to the cornea with a cotton bud, tissue, pin or fingernail
- Do not press on the eye or force the lids open if there has been a significant injury
- Do not use anaesthetic drops to keep working
- Do not apply herbs, breast milk, urine, sugar solution or oil, which risk serious infection
When to be examined
Seek assessment if the sensation persists after rinsing, if vision is affected, if the eye is painful or red, if a particle was travelling at speed from grinding, hammering or welding, or if you wear contact lenses. A high speed particle can penetrate the eye with surprisingly little pain, and welding without protection causes a painful surface burn hours later.
At examination the lids are everted to look underneath, a dye is used to reveal scratches, and a foreign body on the surface can usually be removed safely under anaesthetic drops at the slit lamp.
Other causes of the same feeling
Dry eye, blepharitis, an eyelash turning inwards, a stitch from previous surgery and early corneal infection all feel like grit. Persistent grittiness without an obvious cause should be examined rather than treated repeatedly with rinses.
When to seek urgent assessment
- A high speed particle from grinding, hammering, welding or an explosion, which needs emergency assessment even if the eye feels reasonable
- Any chemical splash, which needs immediate prolonged irrigation and emergency care
- A visible cut in the eye, a distorted pupil or fluid leaking from the eye
- Severe pain, reduced vision or a white spot on the cornea
Frequently asked questions
- The feeling went away but my eye still hurts. Why?
- A particle can scratch the cornea and then wash out, leaving an abrasion that remains painful. Abrasions usually heal within a day or two, but should be examined to confirm nothing remains and no infection has begun.
- Can a particle go behind my eye?
- No. The lining of the lids folds back on itself, so nothing can pass behind the eye. Particles usually lodge under the upper lid.
Concerned about these symptoms?
Arrange an eye examination with our consultant ophthalmologist in Garki, Abuja.
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