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Oops! Handgel in your eye, now what?

Oops! Handgel in your eye, now what?

Disinfecting handgel is indispensable in these times. But what if you accidentally get that stuff in your eye?

We now use hand gel more than ever. And yes, sometimes it happens that there is still something on your hand and you accidentally rub your eyes. That really doesn't feel good! And it's not that harmless, because the high alcohol percentage in the disinfectant can damage your lyes. So what should you do if this happens?

Read also: 'How do you get the best out of your hand gel?'

Tips

Optometrist Jiska van Dam gives tips.

  • Immediately flush eyes with water
    Hold your eyes under a gentle stream for 5 to 10 minutes. This can be done with clean water from the tap or a bottle. You probably tend to close your eyes, but try to keep them open while rinsing.
  • Remove contact lenses
    Do you wear contact lenses? Try to remove it as soon as possible.
  • Try not to blink
    Blinking or rubbing can make the irritation worse. Also, do not put pressure on the eye.
  • Call the doctor in case of persistent irritation
    If irritation persists for half an hour or more after rinsing, have your eye checked by a doctor.