What is what to do when bleach gets in your eye?

Bleach in the Eye: Immediate Actions

If you get bleach in your eye, it's crucial to act immediately. Bleach is a corrosive substance that can cause serious damage to your eye if not treated promptly.

Here's what you need to do:

1. Flush Immediately and Continuously: The most important step is to begin flushing your eye with copious amounts of cool, clean water. Use whatever is readily available – a sink faucet, a showerhead, or even a clean pitcher of water.

   • Flush for at least 20 minutes. Do not stop flushing until you are certain all traces of bleach are gone.
   • Hold your eyelid open with your fingers to ensure the water reaches all parts of your eye. Rotate your eye as you flush to help wash out all the bleach.

2. Remove Contact Lenses (If Applicable): If you wear contact lenses, remove them as soon as possible after starting to flush your eye. Don't waste time trying to clean them – discard them.

3. Seek Medical Attention: After thoroughly flushing your eye, you need to see a doctor or go to an emergency room immediately. Even if your eye feels better after flushing, there may still be residual damage that needs to be assessed and treated by a medical professional.

   • Explain to the medical personnel what happened and that you were exposed to bleach. This information will help them provide the appropriate treatment.
   • Follow all instructions given by the doctor or other medical professionals.

Important Considerations

• Do Not Rub Your Eye: Rubbing can worsen the damage.
• Do Not Use Any Other Solutions: Only use cool, clean water to flush your eye. Do not use vinegar, baking soda solutions, or any other home remedies.
• Do Not Delay: Every second counts. The faster you flush your eye, the better your chances of minimizing damage.

Here's a summary of important concepts to reinforce your understanding:

• Immediate Flushing: The most critical step is to start rinsing your eye with water immediately.
• Medical Attention: Seek professional medical help after the initial flushing.
• Contact Lens Removal: Remove contact lenses as soon as possible.