First aid Injuries

Chemical in the eye: what to do

A chemical got into the eye: rinse with plenty of clean water for 10–20 minutes and get medical help urgently. Based on ERC 2021 and IFRC guidelines.

Prepared by the InCaseMap team · Steps translated from the Lithuanian text checked 5 October 2026 Updated 16 October 2026

In short: If a chemical gets into the eye, rinse it straight away with plenty of clean water for 10–20 minutes, removing contact lenses while rinsing. Tilt the head so the water does not run into the healthy eye and, if you can, wear gloves. Get medical help urgently and do not drive yourself. All 38 first-aid instructions, based on state-institution and international guidelines (Lithuanian Ministry of Health, NVSC, VVKT, ERC, IFRC), are in the InCaseMap app and work offline — together with a map of hospitals, pharmacies and shelters.

What to do

  1. Rinse the eye straight away with plenty of clean water for 10–20 minutes. Remove contact lenses while rinsing.
  2. Tilt the head so the water does not run into the healthy eye.
  3. If you can, wear gloves.
  4. Get medical help urgently. Do not drive yourself.

Frequently asked questions

How long should I rinse the eye?

10–20 minutes with plenty of clean water.

Can I drive myself to the doctor?

No. Get medical help urgently, but do not drive yourself.

Sources

Based on: European Resuscitation Council (ERC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Translated from the Lithuanian text checked 5 October 2026.

Call 112 first and do what the operator says — their instructions come before this page; do not hang up until they tell you to. This page does not replace first-aid training.

You may freely use this text and its data, commercially too — just add a link: <a href="https://incasemap.com/en/first-aid-chemical-in-eye">InCaseMap</a> (more)

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