Rinse the eye with water and do not rub it

People differ, and what decides it, they say, is whether it is grit or a chemical. One person says lukewarm water in a bowl is enough, and describes opening the eyes underwater so that debris floats out without touching the eye. Another says running water from a tap or shower is better, especially for chemicals, because the flow carries the irritant away, and one person says an ophthalmologist advised a tap or shower over a still bowl. For a chemical, the NHS says to run water over the eyeball and MedlinePlus says to let running tap water flush it, so running water is what the health services describe. Where there is no tap, the NHS says bottled water will do. One person says a small hole in the cap of a water bottle gives a controlled stream, and that a hose on a soft setting can work; the NHS says to make sure the flow is not too strong. One person says small plastic eye-wash cups from a drugstore are a convenient alternative to a bowl.

The NHS says to hold your eye open while you rinse. One person says bending forward and forcing the lids open floods the eye with tears, which helps wash it out. One person with a condition that stops their lids closing fully says leaving the eyes open does not make them tear and makes dryness worse; for that person it was not good advice. The NHS lists severe pain and an eye you cannot keep open among its reasons for urgent care.

Plain water is what the NHS, MedlinePlus and the CDC name, and MedlinePlus also names saline solution. One person says milk does not help and could do harm with tear gas or pepper spray, and that for tear gas fresh air and time are what clear it; another cites trials that found no more pain relief from milk or baby shampoo than from water alone. One person warns that undissolved salt in a homemade rinse can scratch the cornea and cause permanent vision loss. People also suggested antacid mixes, a shot glass of salt water, hand sanitiser and a hot shower; the sources above do not name any of them, and they are left out.

The CDC’s advice for riot control agents is to leave the area and get fresh air, because breathing them in is the main way of exposure. If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contact lenses, take them out, put them with the dirty clothing and do not put them back in. Wash the spray off your skin with lots of soap and water, put your clothes in a sealed plastic bag, and get medical care as quickly as you can; the CDC says to dial 911 and explain what has happened. People add some points the CDC does not. One person says tear gas fades quickly once you are in fresh air and blinking, while pepper spray is oily and needs soap and water, and another that dish soap works on the face and body. One person warns that a hot shower can bring the spray back on skin where it has settled, and another suggests cool water with the head positioned so that water runs over the face and not down the body. One person warns that going straight into a shower can spread the spray to sensitive parts of the body, and another suggests keeping underwear on. One person says rubbing the eyes after pepper spray can scratch them and cause lasting damage. One person says tear gas and mace can stick to contact lenses, and to wear glasses where it is possible.

MedlinePlus says not to rub the eye or squeeze the eyelids, to examine it in good light without pressing on it, and to try gently rinsing with clean water; if the object is on the lid, it says to flush it out with water or touch it with a clean cotton swab. It says not to use cotton swabs, tweezers or anything else on the coloured part of the eye. Some people say blinking, or rinsing, is better than rubbing. One person says that, given time, blinking and tears may clear the eye on their own. One person says that lifting the upper lid over the lower one and looking up lets the lashes sweep the grit out, and one person suggests pinching the lower lashes first so that no loose lash becomes the new problem. One person says to shine a light from the side when you check in a mirror, so you do not dazzle yourself. One person warns that if rinsing does not get the object out, you should not ask others to take it out by hand; go to the emergency room. One person says an object such as dry paint or metal shavings may need professional removal.