Ocular Trauma: What to Do When Chemicals Splash in Your Eye

When a chemical splash hits your eye, every second counts. It’s not like a cut or a bruise-you can’t wait to see if it gets better. Corrosive substances can burn through the surface of your eye in under 10 seconds. Alkali chemicals like drain cleaner, ammonia, or cement dust are especially dangerous because they don’t just burn-they keep spreading deep into the tissue. Acid burns are serious too, but they tend to stop at the surface. The difference? One can blind you for life. And the only thing that stops it? Immediate, continuous irrigation.

Why Speed Is Everything

A 2017 meta-analysis in the British Journal of Ophthalmology found that starting water irrigation within 10 seconds of exposure reduces the risk of permanent vision loss by 76%. That’s not a guess. That’s data from hundreds of real cases. Delay just one minute, and the damage multiplies. Two minutes? You’re looking at a much higher chance of corneal scarring, perforation, or even loss of the eye.

In workplaces where chemicals are used, the average delay before someone starts flushing their eye is over two minutes. Why? Panic. Confusion. Believing they’ll be fine if they just rub it out. But rubbing makes it worse. It grinds the chemical deeper into the eye. And most people don’t know how long to flush for. They think 30 seconds is enough. It’s not.

The Right Way to Flush: Step by Step

Here’s what actually works, based on the latest guidelines from the American Red Cross, CDC, and ophthalmology experts:

1. Don’t panic. Don’t rub. Rubbing is the #1 mistake people make. It pushes the chemical into the eye and scrapes the surface. Keep your hands away.
2. Start flushing right away. Don’t look for saline. Don’t wait for someone to help. Use whatever clean water is closest-tap water, a sink, a hose, even bottled water. It doesn’t have to be sterile. Water is the best first aid you can give.
3. Hold your eye open. Use your fingers to gently pull your upper and lower eyelids apart. If you can’t do it yourself, ask someone to help. The goal is to get water flowing over the entire surface of the eye, not just the corner.
4. Flush for at least 20 minutes. This is non-negotiable. Healthdirect Australia, the Better Health Channel, and multiple ophthalmology clinics agree: 20 minutes is the minimum. Some cases need longer, especially with strong alkalis. Don’t stop just because it feels better. The chemical may still be active beneath the surface.
5. Keep your head tilted. Tilt your head back and turn it so the injured eye is down. This stops the chemical from running into your other eye. Most guides leave this out. It’s critical.
6. Remove contact lenses if you can. If your eye isn’t severely swollen or damaged, try to gently remove the lens. It can trap chemicals underneath. If you can’t remove it without causing more pain, leave it and keep flushing. The water will wash around it.
7. Keep going until help arrives. The American Red Cross says to flush until EMS gets there. That’s the safest rule. If you’re at home, keep flushing while someone calls 999. If you’re at work, get to the eyewash station and stay under it for the full time.

What Not to Do

There are a lot of myths out there. Don’t fall for them:

• Don’t use eye drops or ointments. They won’t neutralize the chemical. They might even trap it.
• Don’t bandage the eye. Covering it can trap heat and chemicals. Let the water flow.
• Don’t wait to see a doctor. Even if it feels fine after flushing, you need professional evaluation. Damage can develop hours later.
• Don’t rely on pH strips. While some guidelines mention checking pH, you won’t have litmus paper handy in an emergency. Just flush. Keep going.

Tap Water vs. Saline: Does It Matter?

You’ve probably heard that saline is better. It’s not. A 2020 study in JAMA Ophthalmology found no difference in outcomes between tap water and sterile saline for initial irrigation. Tap water is readily available, cheap, and effective. Saline solutions are useful in hospitals, but in the first minutes after injury, water wins. The key isn’t the type of fluid-it’s the volume and the speed.

Workplace vs. Home: What’s Different?

If you work with chemicals, your workplace should have an ANSI Z358.1-compliant eyewash station. That means:

• Water flows at 0.4 gallons per minute (about 1.5 liters)
• Water is tepid-between 60°F and 100°F (16°C-38°C)
• It activates in under one second
• It’s located within a 10-second walk from the hazard

But here’s the problem: OSHA inspections in 2023 found that nearly 23% of workplaces with chemical risks didn’t meet these standards. Many stations were broken, clogged, or too far away. If you’re in a lab, factory, or salon, check your eyewash station now. Test it. Make sure it works.

At home, you don’t have that luxury. That’s why every household with cleaning products, bleach, or pool chemicals should keep a large bottle of water near the sink. Keep a jug of clean water in the bathroom or garage. It’s not expensive. It could save your vision.

What Happens After Flushing?

Even after 20 minutes of flushing, you still need medical care. A doctor will check for:

• Corneal damage using a special dye
• Pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure)
• Signs of infection or delayed tissue death

About 18.7% of people with severe chemical burns end up needing a corneal transplant within five years. That’s a major surgery, costing over $27,000 on average. Prevention isn’t just about saving sight-it’s about avoiding lifelong medical bills.

Why Most People Get It Wrong

A 2022 study of over 1,200 workplace eye injuries found:

• 68% rubbed their eyes
• 83% used too little water
• 57% stopped flushing too soon

Why? Lack of training. Most people only read a poster or a pamphlet. Hands-on practice makes the difference. People who’ve done a real first aid drill are 3.2 times more likely to do it right.

If you’re a parent, teacher, or worker, don’t just watch a video. Practice. Fill a sink with water. Have someone simulate the splash. Practice holding the eye open. Time the 20 minutes. Make it real.

What’s New in 2026?

There’s one new tool gaining traction: Diphoterine, a special ocular decontamination solution approved by the FDA in 2022. It doesn’t just wash away chemicals-it binds to them and neutralizes them on contact. Studies show it cuts irrigation time by 40%. But it’s expensive and not widely available outside hospitals and industrial sites.

Another development? Smart safety goggles with built-in pH sensors. 3M is testing them now. They flash a warning if they detect a chemical splash and even count down the recommended flush time. They’re not on the market yet, but they’re coming.

For now, though, the best tool is still the same: water, patience, and speed.

Final Reminder: This Is Preventable

Chemical eye injuries aren’t accidents waiting to happen. They’re failures of preparation. Every household with bleach. Every workshop with solvents. Every salon with hair relaxer. All of them need a plan.

- Know where your water source is.

- Practice flushing your own eye with water.

- Keep a jug of water near cleaning supplies.

- Teach your kids what to do if something gets in their eye.

- Check your workplace eyewash station.

Vision is fragile. One mistake, one second of delay, and it can be gone forever. Don’t wait until it’s too late to learn.