What to do if you poke your eye with mascara?

Author: Helmer Heathcote  |  Last update: Wednesday, August 27, 2025

What to Do for a Scratched Eye?
  1. Rinse your eyes with clean water or saline solution. ...
  2. Put upper eyelids over the lower ones so that the lower eyelids can brush away the foreign substance.
  3. Wear sunglasses when you step out in the sun to ease your pain and discomfort.

What happens if mascara touches your eye?

Getting a small amount of mascara in your eye can be uncomfortable but is usually not a cause for major concern. It may cause temporary irritation, redness, and tearing. To alleviate any discomfort, rinse your eye gently with lukewarm water and avoid rubbing it.

How do you know if a poked eye is serious?

When to Go to the Doctor
  • You have pain, vision changes, or increased light sensitivity after a scratch or trauma to the eyeball.
  • A foreign object is lodged in your eye, eyelid, or under the eyelid.
  • You experience loss of vision.
  • Something hit your eye at high speed or with high force.

How long does it take for an eye to heal after being poked?

Most corneal abrasions heal within a few days and cause no further problems. If you need and get treatment, your vision should be fine. Eye scratches that don't heal up or don't respond to treatment could lead to infections or scarring. Both of these things could cause loss of vision.

What to do if you accidentally poke yourself in the eye?

First Aid Treatment for Eye Injuries
  1. DO NOT rub the eye.
  2. Blink several times and allow tears to flush out the particle.
  3. Lift the upper eyelid over the lashes of your lower lid to let the eyelashes try to brush the particle out.
  4. Use eyewash, saline solution or running tap water to flush the eye out.

HOW TO STOP MASCARA FROM SMUDGING UNDER YOUR EYES | NINA UBHI

Is a poked eye an emergency?

Seek emergency medical care if: There appears to be a scratch, cut, or something has gone into (penetrated) the eyeball.

How do you treat a poked eye at home?

Treatment
  1. Rinse your eye with clean water or a saline solution. You can use an eyecup or a small, clean drinking glass positioned with its rim resting on the bone at the base of your eye socket. ...
  2. Blink several times. This may remove small particles.
  3. Pull the upper eyelid over the lower eyelid.

Should I go to the doctor if I poked my eye?

A variety of other, less common eye problems may occur after being poked, so see an eye care provider if there are any vision changes or eye pain after an eye injury.

Does ice help a poked eye?

Ice and cold packs can reduce the pain, swelling, and bleeding of an injury. Cold therapy is usually used immediately after an injury. For an eye injury, use one of the following methods: Ice towel.

What are 5 signs of an eye injury?

When Does an Eye Injury Need Medical Care?
  • trouble seeing.
  • something stuck in the eye.
  • severe eye pain.
  • blood in the eye.
  • upset stomach or vomiting after an eye injury.
  • a cut on the eye.
  • pupils that don't look equal or one isn't round.
  • an injury from being struck in the eye with a ball or other object.

Should I go to the ER for an eye injury?

The signs and symptoms of eye emergencies include:

A bloodshot eye appearance, even if a wound is not visible. Loss of vision (partial or total). Leakage of blood or clear fluid from the injured eye. Any eye contact with chemicals, including fumes.

How to wash an eye out?

Flush the eye from the inner corner toward the outer corner. Use large amounts of water. This prevents a substance in the eye from washing into the other eye. Flushing the eye will be easier if you have someone who can help you.

Can a poked eye get infected?

Corneal (KOR-nee-ul) abrasions usually aren't serious and most heal within a few days. But they're often painful and do need some attention. Luckily, long-term vision usually isn't affected, but in rare cases, a corneal abrasion can get infected.

What to do when you poke your eye with mascara?

If you feel like something has got into your eyes, rubbing them to remove it will only scratch your eyes. Instead, blink your eyes several times, pull your upper eyelid over the lower, and rinse with water immediately. If you feel something is stuck on the cornea, leave it to your doctor to remove that.

How to know if an eye is infected?

Signs of an eye infection may include:
  1. Pain in the eye.
  2. A feeling that something is in the eye (foreign body sensation).
  3. Increased sensitivity to light (photophobia).
  4. Yellow, green, bloody, or watery discharge from the eye.
  5. Increasing redness of the eye or eyelids.

Can old mascara damage your eyes?

Bacteria thrives in the dark, moist environment of your mascara tube. Although many cosmetics contain preservatives that slow bacterial growth, over time bacteria will accumulate. This can lead to bacterial infections like styes or pinkeye. You also risk fungal infections and general irritation.

How long does it take a poked eye to heal?

Fortunately, smaller corneal abrasions usually heal quite quickly-often within 24 hours-or during sleep. Larger corneal abrasions make take 2 or 3 days to fully heal. However, during the healing time patients often experience tearing, redness, blurred vision and light sensitivity.

What are the red flags of eye trauma?

Pain and swelling: If you have significant eye pain that doesn't go away, it might be more serious. Notice if it has a stinging or burning quality, or if it hurts more in the light. Swelling is another sign that tissues have been damaged and they've begun the process of repair.

Should I go to the ER for a scratched eye?

In general, if you have a scratched cornea and the pain or discomfort isn't improving after a day or two, it's a good idea to seek medical attention at the nearest urgent care.

Will something in your eye eventually come out?

The eye will often flush out small objects, like eyelashes and sand, through blinking and tearing. DO NOT rub the eye if there is something in it. Wash your hands before examining the eye. Examine the eye in a well-lit area.

Can minor eye injury heal on its own?

Minor irritation or injury to the front of the eye usually doesn't need treatment and should clear up within 24 hours. See your optician or GP if you are concerned about your injury, or it's not better within 24 hours. More serious injury needs immediate medical assessment.

Should I be worried if I got poked in the eye?

If your eye is painful as you move it around from side to side or up and down, that's another thing that may be a cause for concern. If you cover the good eye and you look out of the eye that's injured and your vision is blurry, that may be another thing to alert you to actually go to the emergency room.

Does sleep help corneal abrasion?

The cornea has many nerve endings and is thus very sensitive making a scratched cornea a potentially painful experience. Fortunately, smaller corneal abrasions usually heal quite quickly-often within 24 hours-or during sleep.

What eye drops are good for eye injuries?

Treatment of Eye injury

Hyperton Eye Drop is used to heal an eye injury after surgery, infection or trauma. It reduces swelling in the eye which may lessen eye discomfort or irritation. Use Hyperton Eye Drop exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

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