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What to do if…
a chemical has splashed in your eye and it still burns after rinsing

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Restart rinsing the eye with clean running water or sterile saline and get urgent medical help now. Ongoing burning after a chemical exposure can mean the eye still needs emergency irrigation and an urgent eye exam.

Do not do these things

  • Do not wait to see if burning settles on its own.
  • Do not rub the eye or squeeze it shut.
  • Do not try to neutralize the chemical with another chemical, including vinegar, baking soda, or other household products.
  • Do not put anything except clean water or sterile saline in the eye unless Poison Help, 911, or a clinician tells you to.
  • Do not re-wear contact lenses from this exposure.
  • Do not patch the eye or press on it.
  • Do not drive yourself if your vision is affected, you feel faint or unwell, or you cannot keep the eye open safely.

What to do now

  1. Restart flushing now.
    Use clean lukewarm tap water, cool running water, an eyewash station, or sterile saline. Hold the eyelids open with clean fingers if you can, and move the eye up, down, left, and right while rinsing.

  2. Keep rinsing for at least 20 minutes, and continue while arranging care if you safely can.
    Let the water run across the eye and away from the other eye. Do not delay rinsing to identify the chemical.

  3. Remove contact lenses only if they come out easily.
    If a lens does not come out quickly, keep flushing over it. Do not pause rinsing for a difficult lens.

  4. Get emergency help now.
    Call 911 if the chemical may be strong or corrosive, such as drain cleaner, oven cleaner, lye, concrete, ammonia, bleach, acid, pesticide, or an industrial chemical; if pain is severe; if vision is blurred or changed; if swelling is significant; or if you cannot keep the eye open. If 911 is not needed and you have safe transport, go now to an emergency department or urgent ophthalmic care if an eye doctor can see you immediately.

  5. Call Poison Help without delaying rinsing or emergency care.
    Call 1-800-222-1222. If another person is with you, ask them to call while you keep rinsing. Say: “Chemical exposure to the eye, already rinsed, still burning.”

  6. Bring the chemical information.
    Take the container, a photo of the label, or the Safety Data Sheet if it was a workplace product. Do not carry a leaking or unsafe container.

  7. Protect the eye during transport.
    Keep rinsing until you leave if you can. Wear sunglasses if light hurts. Avoid touching, pressing, rubbing, or covering the eye tightly.

What can wait

  • You do not need to identify the exact chemical type yourself right now.
  • You do not need to decide whether this is an acid or alkali exposure before getting help.
  • You do not need to sort out insurance, workplace paperwork, incident reports, or follow-up appointments before emergency evaluation.
  • You do not need to clean the whole area before leaving, unless there is an immediate safety hazard for someone else.

Important reassurance

This is frightening, but the first steps are simple: rinse, avoid rubbing or adding anything else, and get urgent help. Fast irrigation and medical assessment can help reduce the chance of lasting eye damage.

Scope note

These are first steps only to reduce harm and get you to appropriate urgent care. Clinicians may continue irrigation, check the eye surface and pH, remove trapped particles, and decide what treatment or follow-up is needed.

Important note

This is general first-step information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. If symptoms are severe, worsening, or there is any vision change, treat it as an emergency and seek immediate care.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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