Eye Irritation

WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR

* There's something embedded in your eyeball.

* The irritation is accompanied by redness or a discharge.

What Your Symptom Is Telling You

Along with popcorn between your teeth and sand in your swimsuit, a speck in your eye ranks among life's more annoying sensations.

Dust particles or a bit of eye makeup floating on your eye are common irritants that can usually be worked out by batting your eyelids several times. But eyes can be red and irritated from overly dry eyes, pollen, air pollution or infection.

Symptom Relief

When batting an eye won't do, here's what to do.

Squirt it out. Maybe you once used eyecups or homemade boric acid solutions to flush out a speck, but they're a poor choice because they can be contaminated, according to Walter I. Fried, M.D., Ph.D., clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School. "You're better off using a few drops of nonprescription, artificial tears," he says. If you don't have commercial tears on hand, splash a little tap water on your eyes. If the particle remains or discomfort persists, see your doctor.

Bat it out. If you can feel the speck but you can't see it, it's possible that the speck has worked its way beneath your upper eyelid. If so, try lifting the upper lid over the lower lid. This enables the lower eyelashes to brush the speck off the inside of the upper lid. Then blink a few times. If the particle floats to the corner of your eye, use a cloth handkerchief to remove it.

Try the flip-over technique. Grasp your upper eyelash and bend the lid back over a cotton-tipped applicator. Now you can flick out the particle with a cloth handkerchief or flush it out with water.

Blow your nose. Blowing your nose may jostle the particle and move it to a better position for removal, says Kenneth Kauvar, M.D., assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver and author of Eyes Only.

Take lots of blink breaks. If your eyes are as dry as the Mojave Desert, artificial tears used throughout the day can be an oasis. Also, if you're staring for long hours at a computer screen, remember to blink frequently to spread the natural tear film and keep your eyes comfortable.

Defend your eyes from ragweed. If your eyes are sensitive to airborne pollen, a stroll in the woods can feel like someone kicked sand in your eyes: They feel gritty, they're red and they may sting like crazy. An over-the-counter antihistamine tablet can erase the discomfort, says Mitchell H. Friedlaender, M.D., director of corneal services in the Division of Ophthalmology at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation in La Jolla, California, and coauthor of 20/20: A Total Guide to Improving Your Vision and Preventing Eye Disease.

Opt for antibiotics. If you have a discharge from your eyes, you probably have an infection and will have to see your doctor for an antibiotic to clear it up.

End Eye Makeup Irritation

Use makeup properly to avoid the problem.

Don't go for the glitter. Ground oyster shells or tinsel used in frosted, pearlized, iridescent or other glittery eyeshadow can be harmful to any eye, but can be especially damaging if a particle finds its way under a contact lens.

Choose pencils over liquid. Eyeliner pencils are less likely to flake off. Don't apply eyeliner to the inner edge of the lower lid where it can clog oil glands and cause irritation or infection.

Avoid lash-building mascara. These products may contain nylon fibers that can fall into the eyes.

Wait until all signals are clear. "Never apply eye makeup if your eyes are irritated," says Dr. Fried.

See also Eye Dryness; Eye Redness