Something in your eye? Here’s how to get it out – without making it worse

‘Be mindful of what you’re doing, react quickly, and don’t do something silly like trying to fix the problem yourself when something does go wrong,’ says Avnish Deobhakta, an ophthalmologist. Photograph: PixelsEffect/Getty Images

It may feel like a gritty, annoying sensation, or a sharp pain. Either way, you may have the same problem: something is stuck in your eye and needs to come out.

Addressing the situation incorrectly can lead to bigger issues such as infection, scarring, an ulcer or corneal scratches, which are abrasions on the clear covering of your eye. Ignoring the dilemma can lead to similar consequences.