HealthInfo Canterbury
Chemicals in the eye
Poihana ki te karu
Important
Phone 111 immediately and ask for an ambulance if the chemical is causing burning or stinging in the person's eyes. Do not rub the affected eye(s). Rinse or flush the affected eye(s) with clean room temperature water from a tap or low-pressure hose for at least 15 minutes.
Give the chemical container to the ambulance team when they arrive.
How to tell if someone has chemicals in their eyes
Ask the person what has happened. If they have spilled or splashed chemicals into their eyes, they will experience one or more of the following:
- pain
- red eye(s)
- irritated eye(s)
- watering eye(s)
- blurred vision.
Helping someone who has chemicals in their eyes
- Wash their hands to remove any chemicals.
- Take out any contact lenses if they do not wash out when rinsing.
- Tilt their head to one side, holding their eyelids open.
- Run gently running water into their eyes for at least 15 minutes. Use clean room temperature water from a tap or low-pressure hose. Take care not to wash the chemicals from one eye into the other.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed December 2022.
SourcesReview key: HIFAD-141030
