Private something in the eye clinic in London, same-day eye.

If something has simply blown in

1. Do not rub the eye. Rubbing drags the particle across the surface and turns an irritation into a scratch.
2. Remove contact lenses.
3. Blink several times and let the eye water — tears wash most things out unaided.
4. Pull the upper lid down over the lower lid and hold it there for a moment. The lower lashes often sweep the particle out from under the upper lid.
5. Rinse with clean water or sterile saline, holding the lid open and letting water run across the eye from the inner corner outwards.
6. If it is still there after that, stop trying and get it looked at. Do not use tweezers, cotton buds or a fingernail on the eye.

After a foreign body has been removed

• The eye often feels gritty for 24 to 48 hours afterwards, as the surface heals. That is expected.
• Antibiotic ointment or drops may be prescribed to prevent infection while the surface repairs.
• Do not wear contact lenses until the eye is completely comfortable and you have been told it is safe.
• A rust ring can be left behind by a metal fragment and sometimes needs a second visit to remove — this is routine.
• Avoid dusty environments and wear eye protection while it heals.

Come back urgently if

• pain is increasing rather than settling after the first day
• vision becomes blurred, or you notice a white spot on the coloured part of the eye
• the eye becomes increasingly red, sticky or sensitive to light

Arc eye and welder's flash

Ultraviolet exposure from welding without a mask, a sunbed, or bright snow causes intense pain, watering and light sensitivity that typically begins six to twelve hours later, often waking someone in the night. It is a surface burn, it is extremely painful, and it heals within a day or two. Rest the eyes, keep them closed, use lubricating drops and take painkillers — but have it confirmed rather than assumed, and never use anaesthetic drops repeatedly, which prevents healing.