Most eye injuries are minor, like getting soap in the eye or a speck of dirt under the eyelid. Others, like those that happen during sports activities or from a fall, can be serious and need medical attention. Signs and Symptoms redness around or in the eye stinging or burning watering sensitivity to light blurred vision swelling of the eyelids discoloration around the eye What to Do If you think your child has a particle in the eye or a minor irritation, be sure to: Wash your hands before touching the eye area. Flush the eye with water as soon as possible: Tilt your child's head over a basin or sink with the injured eye pointed down. Gently pull down the lower lid. Gently pour a steady stream of lukewarm water over the eye. Flush the eye for up to 15 minutes, checking every 5 minutes to see if the foreign body has been flushed out. Get Medical Care if Your Child Has: been struck in the eye with a ball or other object a red or irritated eye eye discomfort a swollen, red, or painful area around the eye or eyelid an eye that's very sensitive to light Get Emergency Care Immediately if Your Child Has: trouble seeing been exposed to chemicals something embedded in the eye severe eye pain blood in the eye nausea or vomiting after an eye injury Think Prevention! Kids who play sports should wear protective goggles or unbreakable glasses as needed. Keep chemicals and other hazardous objects out of the reach of children. Back to Articles Related Articles Activity: Eyes Do you know your peepers? Label these parts of the eye. Read More Answers: Eyes How the Body Works Eye Activity solution Read More A to Z: Hyphema Hyphema is a condition that happens when blood collects in the front part of the eye. Read More A to Z: Foreign Body, Eye To prevent damage to the eye, any object that isn't washed out right away by tears must be removed. Read More Movie: Eyes Chloe and the Nurb take you on a tour of the eyes and how seeing happens. Watch this How the Body Works movie! Read More Word Find: Eyes Find the hidden words about the eyes. Read More First Aid: Pinkeye Pinkeye is an inflammation of the white part of the eye and the inner eyelids. Although some kinds of pinkeye go away on their own, others require treatment. Read More Your Child's Vision It's important for kids to have their eyes examined regularly, as many vision problems and eye diseases can be detected and treated early. Read More Eye Injuries You can treat many minor eye irritations by flushing the eye, but more serious injuries require medical attention. Read More A to Z: Blepharitis Learn about the causes of eye irritation and conditions that can affect the eyes and eyelids. Read More A to Z: Conjunctivitis (Pinkeye) Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the tissue covering the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelid. Read More A to Z: Contusion (Bruise), Eye Learn more about black eyes and contusions (bruises) of the eye. Read More Your Eyes Ever wonder how your eyes work? This article for kids takes you from the pupil to the retina and beyond. Read More Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis) Pinkeye, or conjunctivitis, is the most common eye infection affecting kids. Learn more about pinkeye and how to prevent it from spreading. Read More Pinkeye Pinkeye is the most common eye problem kids can have. It causes redness, itching, inflammation, and pus to collect in the eyes. Read More Taking Care of Your Vision Even if you're lucky enough to have perfect vision, taking care of and protecting your eyes is vital to keeping your peepers perfect. Learn all about how to take care of your baby blues (or browns or greens) in this article. Read More Eyes Although your eyes are small, their structure is incredibly complex. Find out how they work in this body basics article. Read More Eyes The eyes are small compared with most of the body's other organs, but their structure is incredibly complex. Learn more about eyes, vision, and common problems with both. Read More Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis) Conjunctivitis, commonly called pinkeye, is an inflammation of the tissue covering the eye and inner surface of the eyelid. Read More Corneal Abrasions Corneal abrasions, which are common among kids, happen when something gets into the eye. Though sometimes painful, they're rarely serious and usually heal within a few days. Read More Styes A stye is a backed-up oil gland in the eyelid. Styes are usually easy to get rid of. Read More Quiz: Eyes Take this quiz about your eyes. Read More Styes A stye is a backed-up oil gland in the eyelid. Styes are usually easy to get rid of, but there are some things you can do to help. Learn more about styes. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.