How to Get an Eyelash Out of Your Eye

Co-authored by Shipra Taneja

Last Updated: August 19, 2022 References

A stray eyelash finding its way into your eye is super irritating, especially if you can’t get it out. Don’t panic—there are several things you can try to get a stubborn eyelash out of your eye quickly. Try a few of these different methods until something works for you.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Rinsing with Liquid

1
Flood the eye by splashing water into your eyes. ^{[1]
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Research source} This is the easiest and fastest method of removing an eyelash. Splashing your eyes with water can cause the eyelash to simply be rinsed out with the water. Mineral and bottled water is ideal as it's more sterile than tap water. You can use tap water if you don't have mineral or bottled available.
- Cup your hands, catch some water in them, and splash into open eyes. It is okay to blink when the water touches your eye. Repeat several times if necessary until the eyelash is gone.
2
Rinse the eye by lowering your open eyes into water. This is another, slightly gentler way to rinse out the eyelash using water. Use mineral or bottled water if you have it.
- Pour water into a large bowl. Slowly lower your face, with open eyes, into the water until the liquid touches your eyes. If you feel the urge to blink when your eyes touch the water, do so. All that matters is that the liquid touches your eye.
- The eyelash should then wash out into the bowl. Repeat several times if necessary until the eyelash is gone.
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3
Pour a saline solution (eye drops) into the eye.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Shipra Taneja
Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 6 August 2021.} Saline, like mineral water, is more sterile than tap water and safer for the eye.^{[3]
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Research source}
- Take an eyedropper and fill it with saline solution. While keeping your eyes open, pour a few drops directly into the open eye. Hopefully, the eyelash washes right out. Repeat if necessary.
- Many saline solutions come in small bottles with a squirt head. If this is the case, you don't have to use an eyedropper. Simply lift the bottle and pour a few drops into your eye. Blink and if necessary, repeat several times until the eyelash is washed out.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Using a Q-Tip or Your Fingers

1
Locate the problem lash. For this method of removal, you need to set the stage by locating the eyelash and washing your hands.
- Look in a mirror to see where in your eye the lash is located. You should use your fingers or a Q-Tip to remove only if the eyelash is on the white part and not the colored part of the eye. The colored part is more sensitive and you may want to see an eye doctor instead if the eyelash is there. ^{[4]
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  Research source}
- Wash your hands. Use soap, and dry your hands completely. Washing your hands removes bacteria that you could otherwise get into your eye.
2
Use one finger to move the eyelash into the inner corner of your eye (toward your nose). Stand in front of a mirror as you do so, and keep your eyes open so you can see what you're doing. Don't push it all the way to the corner, just away from the center (pupil) of the eye.
3
Remove with a Q-Tip. Make sure that the cotton of the Q-Tip has not loosened, as you don't want any particles coming off into your eye. If try this more than once, use a new Q-Tip for hygiene each time you touch your eye.
- Moisten a Q-Tip by immersing the tip in saline solution. ^{[5]
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  Research source} Saline solution will not hurt the eye. To get the Q-Tip wet, you can either unscrew the lid of a saline bottle solution, and dip the Q-Tip in, or pour a little into a bowl, and dip the Q-Tip into that.
- Touch the Q-Tip gently to the eyelash. Keep your eye open while doing so. You may want to hold your eyelids open with the fingers of one hand while holding the Q-Tip with the other.
- Remove the eyelash. Ideally, the eyelash sticks to the Q-Tip and is removed safely and easily. Simply pull the Q-tip directly backward, taking the eyelash with it.
4
Remove with your fingers. This method involves either swiping or pulling it out with your fingers. Make sure that your hands are clean and that you keep your eyes open.
- Swipe the eyelash with one finger. You may want to hold the eyelids of the affected eye open with the fingers of your non-dominant hand. With one finger of the other hand, gently swipe the eyelash in a light sliding motion. Try not to blink. The eyelash should be dislodged from the eye by the motion of your finger.
- Pull the eyelash with two fingers. If a simple swipe doesn't dislodge it, try gently pinning it between two fingers. Your fingers should rest gently on your eye as you pin the eyelash between them. Do not use this method if you have very long fingernails, as you may scratch your eye. Once you have the eyelash caught between two fingers, pull it gently directly outward.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Using Your Eyelids

1
Grab the top eyelid's lashes with your thumb and pointer finger. Pinpoint the location of the eyelash before trying this method. This works best if the eyelash is trapped in the top part of the eye.
2
Pull your eyelid out and down over your lower eyelashes. ^{[6]
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Trustworthy Source
University of Rochester Medical Center
Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research
Go to source} Pull the lid gently, not strongly. Your upper and lower lashes should brush against each other. Try blinking once or twice with your lid closed. It might help loosen the lash from the area it's stuck.
3
Release your eyelid and let it slide back. Ideally, the motion of your lid against the eyeball as it moves dislodges the eyelash. It may stick to your lashes instead of the eye, from which you can remove it easily, or fall out of your eye as you open your lid.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Sleeping on it

1
Go to sleep with the eyelash still in. The eyes naturally get rid of dirt and substances while you sleep. The crust you often find on your eyes and eyelashes when waking up is a result of the eye's self-cleaning process.
2
Don't rub or touch your eyes during the night. This could irritate your eye and even potentially scratch the cornea. ^{[7]
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Trustworthy Source
University of Rochester Medical Center
Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research
Go to source}^{[8]
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Expert Source

Shipra Taneja
Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 6 August 2021.} Try to ignore any discomfort.
3
Check your eye when you wake up. Hopefully, the eyelash has disappeared like magic as your eye naturally removed it. If the eyelash hasn't disappeared, it may have moved into a comfortable and more easily accessible area. Then you can remove it using other methods.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Seeing an Eye Doctor

1
Call the doctor's office beforehand and explain what you need. The doctor should take no more than five minutes to get the eyelash out. Specifying beforehand what you need increases your chances of seeing a doctor that day.
2
See an optometrist.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Shipra Taneja
Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 6 August 2021.} You can visit either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. Optometrists primarily treat vision problems, but are equipped to handle some eye diseases and concerns as well.^{[10]
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Research source}
3
See an ophthalmologist.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Shipra Taneja
Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 6 August 2021.} Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who treat a wide range of eye problems. The doctor will remove the eyelash quickly and safely, ensuring the eye doesn't get infected.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you get something out of your eye that won't come out?

Shipra Taneja
Makeup Artist
Shipra Taneja is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Taneja's Bride, a lifestyle, beauty, and fashion blog. She specializes in creating bold, colorful makeup looks. Shipra is passionate about making colorful makeup comfortable for everybody.

Shipra Taneja

Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

The method that always works for me is closing my eyes and gently massaging my eyelid in the direction I believe the eyelash will be safely ejected. If it does get annoying, please visit your eye doctor to make sure that he or she can extract it carefully.
Question

Can an eyelash in the eye cause damage?

Shipra Taneja
Makeup Artist
Shipra Taneja is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Taneja's Bride, a lifestyle, beauty, and fashion blog. She specializes in creating bold, colorful makeup looks. Shipra is passionate about making colorful makeup comfortable for everybody.

Shipra Taneja

Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

It can scratch your cornea, especially if you rub your eyes vigorously trying to remove it.
Question

Can something in your eye come out on its own?

Shipra Taneja
Makeup Artist
Shipra Taneja is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Taneja's Bride, a lifestyle, beauty, and fashion blog. She specializes in creating bold, colorful makeup looks. Shipra is passionate about making colorful makeup comfortable for everybody.

Shipra Taneja

Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

Yes! You can always apply a lubricating eye drop to help the foreign object out of your eyes by itself.