While you were quietly lying on your towel, a tornado of children projected sand, part of which unfortunately landed in your eye. An incident that is not very serious, but still painful, which requires suitable care. Here’s how to get out of it without redness or infections.
Grains of sand in the eye: the right reflexes to apply
When grains of sand come to nest in one eye (or in both) it is necessary to act quickly.
“Cline eyes several times to stimulate natural tears, which can eliminate the sand. Then rinse abundantly with physiological serum or clean water (if possible sterile). Tilt the head on the side and gently pour from the liquid from the inside to the outside of the eye. Finally examine the eye under a good light by gently pulling on the eyelids to check the presence of grains”, advises Dr. Gérald Kierzek, medical director of True Medical.
These good practices will allow you to preserve the good health of your eyes and to get better quickly. But beware: other gestures – often made mechanically – must be banished. Here are a few, unveiled by our medical expert.
- Rub the eye. “”You risk scratching the cornea of your eye or driving the sand “;
- Use various objects “Like a cotton swab, tweezers or simply your fingers, to remove the sand “;
- Rinse with dirty water (seawater, tap water not filtered), “which can introduce bacteria “.
Sand in the eyes: What conduct adopt in the hours that follow?
If the sand has been evacuated and there is no more discomfort, “Just watch the eye for 24 hours “confirms Dr Gérald Kierzek. On the other hand, in case of persistent irritation, “Continue to rinse your eyes and apply artificial tears to soothe them. “
If the pain is intense, or if redness, troubled vision or sensitivity to light appears “Then consult a doctor or an ophthalmologist quickly, at the risk if not to develop a keratitis or a corneal ulcer “warns the emergency doctor.
Other important information to know: some people are more at risk of infections or complications. This is particularly the case:
- Lentil wearers: “which have an increased risk of infection – it is therefore necessary to remove the lenses immediately “;
- People with a weakened immune system “especially in the event of diabetes or immunosuppressive treatment “;
- Children. “”They often rub their eyes and may not properly express their pain. ”
“In conclusion, it is therefore not necessary to take a grain of sand in the eye lightly, especially if the discomfort persists. In the event of doubt, consult a professional to avoid an infection or a corneal lesion. A test with eye drops with fluorescein, carried out by a doctor or in the emergency room, is recommended: fluorescence allows the evidence of corneal defects”concludes the medical director of True Medical.