There are a couple of ways to safely remove an object from the eye.

Do not try to remove:

• Any object made of metal.
• Any object that has punctured the eye.

To remove a nonmetal object that is on the surface of the eye or inside the eyelid:

• Wash your hands before you touch the eye.
• Try to gently flush out the object with water.
• If the object is on the white part of the eye or inside the lower lid, wet a cotton swab or the tip of a twisted piece of tissue and touch the end to the object. The object should cling to the swab or tissue.
• Do not use tweezers, toothpicks, or other hard items to remove an object.