Self-Care at Home for Eye Pain

• Most commonly, home care consists of flushing the eye with water. With exposure to a foreign body or chemical to the eye, it is important to thoroughly flush the eye with lukewarm tap water or commercially prepared eyewash solution. See the home care section under eye injury for techniques on how to flush your eye with water.


• If you think a foreign body is in your eye, do not rub your eye. This can seriously damage the eye by causing more damage to the surface as the foreign body is moved around with rubbing. Do not attempt to remove a foreign body from your eye or someone else's eye. Treatment other than gentle eye irrigation is generally not recommended and should be reserved for medical professionals and eye doctors.


• For mild cases of eye discomfort, rest your eyes, take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and avoid bright light.