Dealing with eye injuries
Peer reviewed by Dr Hayley Willacy, FRCGP Last updated by St John AmbulanceLast updated 21 Nov 2016
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This page has been archived.
It has not been reviewed recently and is not up to date. External links and references may no longer work.
This leaflet is created from first aid advice provided by St John Ambulance, the nation's leading first aid charity. This advice is no substitute for first aid training - find a training course near you.
Eye injuries vary from something very minor, such as getting shampoo in your eye, to something quite serious, such as a cut, which could cause permanent loss of vision.
At a glance
Eye injuries can be caused by foreign objects, cuts, or blows to the eye.
Even minor eye injuries can lead to scarring, infection, or permanent vision damage.
Symptoms of an eye injury include pain, visible wounds, or loss of vision.
If you suspect an eye injury, stop the person from rubbing their eye.
For foreign objects, try to wash them out with clean water.
If the eye is bruised or cut, keep the person still and cover the injured eye.
Seek hospital treatment if washing out a foreign object doesn't work, or for cuts and bruises.
In this article:
Video picks for Eye injuries
Common types of eye injury include:
Foreign objects getting stuck in the eye, like an eyelash or pieces of grit, wood or metal.
Cuts or grazes, from sharp objects like glass or metal.
Severe blows to the eye, from a hard object, like a ball.
Foreign objects like grit, or a loose eyelash, often land on the surface of the eye. Usually you can easily rinse these out but sharp fragments like grit, metal or glass may cut the eye in which case the person should go to hospital.
All eye injuries are potentially serious because they could damage the person's vision. Even grazes to the surface of the eye, called the cornea, can lead to scarring or infection, which could permanently damage someone's vision.
When should I worry about eye pain?
Continue reading below
What to look for
The five key things to look for are:
Pain in the eye or eyelid.
A visible wound or bloodshot appearance.
Partial or total loss of vision.
Blood or a clear fluid leaking from a wound.
Screwed up eyelids and watering if there's something in there.
If you notice these symptoms then you need to take action to prevent further damage.
What you need to do
Back to contentsTell them not to rub it as this could make it worse.
If you think they might have something in their eye
Ask them to sit down facing a light.
Gently open their eyelids with your thumbs and ask them to look right, left, up and down as you look closely at the eye.
If you can see something in there, wash it out by pouring clean water over the inner corner of the eye.
If this doesn't work or the eye still hurts, send or take them to hospital.
If you think their eye may be bruised or cut
Help them to lie on their back and hold their head to keep it as still as possible.
Tell them to keep both eyes still, as moving their good eye will also move the 'bad' eye, which could make it worse.
Give them a sterile dressing, or a clean non-fluffy pad to hold over their 'bad' eye.
If it will be a while before you can get medical help, then you can hold the pad in place with a bandage.
Now take or send them to hospital.
Note: these hints are no substitute for thorough knowledge of first aid. St John Ambulance holds first aid courses throughout the country.
Adapted from the St John Ambulance leaflet: eye injuries. Copyright for this leaflet is with St John Ambulance.
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The retina is a structure at the back of the eye which is essential for sight. When two layers of tissue in the retina become separated, it is known as a retinal tear or detachment. It is a very serious eye condition and can cause severe visual impairment if it is not treated promptly. However, with rapid diagnosis and treatment, which is usually surgery, the outlook (prognosis) may be very good for some types of retinal detachment.
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Frequently asked questions
What kind of first aid knowledge is important for eye injuries?
While the article provides some useful hints for eye injuries, it states that these are not a substitute for thorough first aid knowledge. It suggests that St John Ambulance holds first aid courses across the country for those who wish to learn more.
If I can't rinse out a foreign object from my eye, what should I do next?
If you try to rinse out a foreign object with clean water and it doesn't work, or if your eye still hurts afterwards, you should get to a hospital for medical attention.
Why is it important to keep both eyes still if one is injured?
If one eye is injured, it's important to keep both eyes still. This is because moving your uninjured eye will also cause the injured eye to move, which could potentially make the injury worse.
What counts as a 'severe blow' to the eye?
A severe blow to the eye is described as an impact from a hard object, such as a ball.
What are some common ways people get foreign objects stuck in their eyes?
Common foreign objects that can get stuck in the eye include an eyelash, or pieces of grit, wood, or metal.
Can even a small scrape on the eye cause long-term damage?
Yes, even grazes to the surface of the eye, known as the cornea, can be serious. These can lead to scarring or infection, which could permanently damage someone's vision.
Continue reading below
About the author
St John Ambulance
About the reviewerView full bio
Dr Hayley Willacy, FRCGP
General Practitioner, Medical Author
MBChB (1992), DRCOG, DFFP, MRCOG (Part 1) MRCGP (2007), DFSRH (2013), MSc - medical education (2020)
Dr Hayley Willacy was an NHS GP working in northwest England, who retired from clinical practice in 2022 after 30 years.
Article history
The information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.
21 Nov 2016 | Latest version
6 Aug 2013 | Originally published
Authored by:
St John Ambulance
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