How to Remove an Eyelash from Your Eye

When an eyelash gets into your eye, it can be very uncomfortable and sometimes even painful. Weak eyelashes may fall into the eye when rubbing your eyes, crying, or being exposed to wind. Since the eyes are a sensitive part of the body, it's important to handle the situation gently when this happens.

Splash water onto your eyes. This is the simplest and fastest method to remove an eyelash from your eye. Splashing water onto your eyes will allow the eyelash to be flushed out with the water. It's best to use mineral or bottled water as they are more sterile than tap water. However, if you don't have any other options, tap water will suffice.

• Form a cup with your hands, scoop the water, and splash it onto your eyes. You can blink your eyes while they are in contact with the water, repeating several times until the eyelash is washed away.

Open your eyes and lean your face into the water. This method also helps gently wash the eyelash out of your eye. It's recommended to use mineral or bottled water if available.

• Pour water into a large bowl. Open your eyes and slowly lower your face into the water until your eyes come in contact with it. If it's uncomfortable, you can blink, as long as the water enters your eyes.
• If needed, repeat several times until the eyelash washes out with the water in the bowl.

Use saline solution in your eyes. Just like mineral water, saline is sterile and safer for your eyes than tap water.

• Pour saline solution into an eye dropper bottle, then open your eyes wide and place a few drops directly into your eyes. If you're lucky, the eyelash will immediately wash out. If not, try a few more drops.
• If the saline solution comes in a bottle with a sharp tip, you don’t need the eye dropper bottle. Simply hold the bottle and drop a few drops directly into your eyes. Blink, and if necessary, add a few more drops until the eyelash is flushed out.

Locate the eyelash inside your eye. If you are using a cotton swab or your finger to remove the eyelash, you need to first locate it and wash your hands thoroughly.

• Look into a mirror to find where the eyelash is located. Only use your finger or a cotton swab if the eyelash is on the white part of your eye. The black part (pupil) is more sensitive, and if the eyelash is in that area, you should see a doctor to remove it.
• Wash your hands. Clean your hands with soap and dry them thoroughly to remove all bacteria, preventing them from entering your eyes.

Use your finger to push the eyelash toward the corner of your eye (near your nose). Stand in front of a mirror and open your eyes to perform the procedure accurately. However, you don’t need to force the eyelash to the corner of your eye—just move it away from the pupil (black part of your eye) and that should be sufficient.

Use a cotton swab. You need to use a cotton swab with a tightly rolled cotton tip to prevent the tip from falling into your eye. If you need to repeat the procedure, make sure to use a new cotton swab each time to maintain hygiene.

• Moisten the cotton tip by dipping it in saline solution. Using saline solution will not harm your eye. You can open the saline bottle and dip the cotton swab into it to moisten it, or pour the solution into a bowl and dip the swab.
• Gently touch the cotton swab to the eyelash. Try to keep your eye open, or use one hand to hold the cotton swab while the other hand holds your eyelids.
• Remove the eyelash. If all goes well, the eyelash will stick to the cotton swab, and you can safely and easily remove it by gently lifting the swab along with the eyelash out of your eye.

Remove the eyelash with your finger. This method requires you to use your finger to push or pull the eyelash out of your eye. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly and avoid closing your eyes.

• Use one finger to push the eyelash out. Use your non-dominant hand to pull back the eyelids and keep the eye open. Then, gently use your dominant finger to push the eyelash out of your eye. Try not to blink, and the eyelash will follow your finger’s movement and come out.
• Pull the eyelash out with two fingers. If pushing the eyelash out with one finger doesn't work, you can try pulling it out using two fingers. When pinching the eyelash, make sure the tips of your fingers come in contact with the eyeball. Avoid using long nails to prevent scratching the eye. Once you’ve pinched the eyelash between your fingers, you can gently pull it out.

Hold the upper eyelid with your thumb and index finger. Before using this method, you need to locate the position of the eyelash. This method is very effective if the eyelash is located on the upper part of the eye.

Lift and pull the upper eyelid down toward the lower eyelid. Gently pull on the eyelids, allowing them to meet. Hold the eyelids together, blink one or two times to help the eyelash move out of its stuck position.

Release your grip on the eyelid to let it return to its original position. Ideally, when you pull the eyelid down and blink, causing the pupil to move, the eyelash will also shift from its stuck position and adhere to the inside of the eyelid. This will allow you to easily remove it, or the eyelash may fall out naturally as you lift the eyelid.

Sleep with the eyelash in your eye. While you sleep, your eyes will automatically expel dirt and foreign particles. The eye discharge you notice upon waking is a result of this natural cleaning mechanism.

Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes while sleeping. If you touch your eyes, you may worsen the discomfort and even scratch the cornea. Try to ignore the irritation in your eye and avoid touching it.

Check your eyes when you wake up. Ideally, after you wake up, the eyelash should be gone as if by magic, thanks to your eyes’ self-cleaning process. If the eyelash is still in your eye, it will have likely shifted to a position where it’s less bothersome and easier to remove. At this point, you can remove it using other methods.

Call the clinic in advance and inform the doctor of your specific situation. The doctor only needs less than 5 minutes to remove the eyelash from your eye. Notifying the situation beforehand increases your chances of securing an appointment on the same day.

Meet with a vision specialist. You can either consult with a vision specialist or an ophthalmologist. The vision specialist primarily addresses issues related to vision but is also capable of diagnosing and treating eye-related diseases and conditions.

Consult an ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist is a doctor who specializes in treating eye-related problems. They will efficiently and safely remove the eyelash from your eye, ensuring there is no risk of infection.