The eyelashes fall into the eye, is this dangerous?

Eyelashes are eye protection that prevents most foreign particles or objects from entering the eye. However, in some conditions, the lashes can actually fall out and enter the eye. Have you experienced this? How do you feel when your lashes fall into your eyes? Is this dangerous or not? Then how do you get it out safely at home?

Is it dangerous if the lashes fall into the eye?

Eyelashes are one of the foreign objects that can enter the eye. When the lashes fall into the eye, they will most likely stick to the cornea and conjunctiva. The cornea is a protective layer covering the front surface of the eyeball. Meanwhile, the conjunctiva is the thin mucous membrane that lines the sclera or the white part of the eye.

Foreign objects such as eyelashes that enter the eye usually do not enter behind the eyeball, but instead fall on this surface. Well, this can cause scratches. These scratches create an irritating condition that makes the eyes red and feels uncomfortable. Especially if the lashes don't work out, the risk of irritation is even greater.

Actually, naturally the lashes that enter the eye can come out by themselves. The reason is, the eye will respond to foreign objects that enter by producing tears. The eyes feel more watery and the lashes can eventually be pushed out. However, sometimes the lashes do not come out on their own right away, so they lodged in the eye and can cause further irritation, especially if your eyes are very dry.

Symptoms that can be caused when eyelashes or other foreign objects enter the eye

Reporting from the Healthline page, if an object such as eyelashes falls into your eye, there will be several symptoms that you can feel:

• Eyes like there is a lump
• The eye hurts
• The eyes blink excessively
• Red eyes
• Pain when seeing light

How to remove lashes that enter the eye

• Before starting to work on your eyes, wash your hands with soap and running water. Make sure your hands are clean.
• If you can't just blink your lashes, try running them warm water out of your eyes. Run warm water from your forehead into the eye where the lashes are tucked in while you hold your eyelid open.
• Or use eyecup (small glasses for washing eyes) clean. Contents eyecup with clean warm water. Glue the eyecup to the eye and wink the eye inside eyecup.
• Do not rub your eyes or put pressure on them when lashes or other foreign objects get into your eyes. When you rub your eyes, you actually make the scratches between your lashes and the surface of your eyes harder. This can worsen the condition of your eyes.
• If you use contact lenses, take them out first to make sure they don't get scratched or torn.
• Do not use tools such as tweezers or other sharp objects to pick up the lashes inside the eye.

When to see a doctor

Although basically the lashes falling into the eye are usually harmless and can be removed on their own, be vigilant if these conditions arise:

• The object was not successfully removed and the eye continued to feel uncomfortable
• Vision becomes blurry
• Swollen eyes
• The eye condition gets worse even though the object lodged in the eye has been removed
• You can't close your eyes
• Bloody eyes

Immediately consult an ophthalmologist if the above conditions occur. Furthermore, the ophthalmologist will usually:

• The surface of the eye will be numbed
• The doctor gives a substance such as a dye so that you can clearly see the scratched part of the eye due to the incoming foreign object
• Then the doctor will look in more detail with the pupil of the eye
• When the problem is found, the doctor will try to remove the foreign object from the eye using a needle or other special instrument. However, if the foreign object is not found or has entered deeper and beyond the surface of the eye, the doctor will do it scan with an X-ray to see exactly which part of the eye has been stuck, scratched, or the foreign object has been inserted.