What to Do If Your Child Gets Hit in the Eye

Kids get hit in the eye.

A ball bounces the wrong way.

A sibling’s finger catches the eye.

A toy flies across the room.

A child falls into furniture.

A pencil, stick, or elbow gets too close.

Sunscreen, soap, pool water, or a cleaning product gets in the eye.

• Sometimes the eye looks fine after a few minutes.
• Sometimes the eyelid swells right away.
• Sometimes the child cries, rubs, keeps the eye closed, or says they cannot see clearly.

The hard part for parents is knowing what can be watched at home and what needs urgent care.

Eye injuries should be taken seriously because the outside of the eye does not always show the full injury. A child can have a scratch, internal bleeding, inflammation, retinal injury, infection risk, or vision change even when the injury looks small at first.

The safest rule is this:

If your child has eye pain, blurry vision, light sensitivity, blood in the eye, trouble opening the eye, double vision, a chemical splash, a sharp object injury, or symptoms after contact lens wear, call the eye doctor or seek urgent care.

First, Stay Calm and Look for Warning Signs

After an eye injury, start by checking how your child is acting.

Ask:

• Can they open the eye?
• Can they see clearly?
• Is vision blurry?
• Are they seeing double?
• Does light hurt?
• Is there blood in or around the eye?
• Is the pupil round and normal looking?
• Is the eye moving normally?
• Is there severe pain?
• Was the injury from a sharp object, chemical, high speed object, or contact lens?
• Is swelling getting worse?
• Did the injury happen during sports?

If any of these answers concern you, do not wait.

Call the eye doctor, go to urgent eye care, or use the emergency room when symptoms are serious.

When to Seek Urgent Care Right Away

Your child should be seen urgently if they have:

• Vision loss
• Blurry vision after injury
• Double vision
• Severe eye pain
• Light sensitivity
• Blood inside the eye
• A misshapen pupil
• Trouble moving the eye
• A cut on the eyelid or near the eye
• A sharp object injury
• Something stuck in the eye
• A chemical splash
• Swelling that prevents the eye from opening
• A child who keeps the eye closed
• Nonstop tearing or blinking
• A high speed injury
• A sports injury with vision symptoms
• New flashes or floaters after injury
• A curtain or shadow in vision
• Contact lens wear with pain, redness, or blurry vision

These symptoms should not be watched for days.

Some eye injuries need same day care.

What to Do After a Blunt Hit to the Eye

A blunt injury happens when something hits the eye or area around the eye.

Examples include:

• Ball
• Elbow
• Fist
• Toy
• Fall
• Door
• Car seat
• Sports equipment
• Sibling’s hand
• Playground injury

For a mild hit with swelling around the eye, you can use a cold compress gently over the closed eyelid.

• Do not press on the eye.
• Do not push on the eyeball.
• Do not rub the eye.

A cold compress may help swelling and discomfort, but it does not rule out internal injury.

Call the eye doctor if there is pain, blurry vision, light sensitivity, blood, double vision, worsening swelling, or if your child will not open the eye.

What If the Eye Looks Bruised?

A black eye can happen after a hit around the eye.

Sometimes the injury is mostly to the eyelid and surrounding tissue.

But a black eye can also happen with deeper injury.

You should be more concerned if your child has:

• Blurry vision
• Double vision
• Eye pain
• Blood in the white part of the eye
• Blood inside the front of the eye
• Trouble moving the eye
• Nausea or vomiting after head injury
• Severe swelling
• One pupil that looks different
• A history of high speed impact

A black eye after a minor bump may improve with cold compresses, but vision symptoms need care.

What If There Is Blood in the Eye?

Blood can mean different things depending on where it is.

A bright red patch on the white part of the eye can sometimes be a subconjunctival hemorrhage. It may look dramatic but can be harmless after minor strain or rubbing.

After trauma, though, blood should be taken seriously.

Blood inside the front chamber of the eye, between the cornea and iris, is called a hyphema. This can be serious and needs urgent care.

Call promptly if you see blood in the eye after injury, especially if there is pain, light sensitivity, blurry vision, nausea, or a change in pupil shape.

Do not assume it is fine because your child seems okay.

What If Your Child Scratched Their Eye?

A scratched cornea is called a corneal abrasion.

This can happen from a fingernail, paper, toy, branch, makeup brush, contact lens, sand, or debris.

A corneal scratch may cause:

• Sharp pain
• Tearing
• Light sensitivity
• Blinking
• Redness
• Feeling like something is in the eye
• Trouble opening the eye
• Blurry vision
• Eye rubbing

Corneal scratches can be very painful.

• Do not let your child rub the eye.
• Do not use old antibiotic drops.
• Do not patch the eye unless the eye doctor tells you to.

Call the eye doctor for guidance. Same day care may be needed, especially if your child has pain, light sensitivity, blurry vision, contact lens wear, or symptoms that do not improve quickly.

What If Something Is Stuck in the Eye?

If something small like dust or sand gets in the eye, your child may tear, blink, and feel irritation.

You can try having them blink or gently rinse the eye with clean saline or clean water if appropriate.

But:

• Do not rub the eye.
• Do not use tweezers near the eye.
• Do not try to remove something embedded in the eye.

If an object is stuck, sharp, or embedded, seek emergency care.

Cover the eye gently with a shield if available and avoid pressure.

An embedded object is not a home care situation.

What If a Chemical Gets in the Eye?

Chemical eye injuries are urgent.

This includes cleaning products, detergent pods, bleach, pool chemicals, battery acid, laboratory chemicals, pesticides, hair products, or other harsh substances.

Start flushing the eye immediately.

• Do not wait to see if it improves.

• Use clean running water or saline.

• If possible, hold the eyelids open gently while flushing.

• Continue flushing while someone else calls for emergency guidance or prepares to get medical care.

• Bring the chemical container or know the product name if you can do so safely.

• Do not try to neutralize the chemical with another chemical.

• Do not put in random drops.

• Do not delay flushing to call the office first.

Chemical injuries can damage the eye quickly, so rinsing starts immediately and medical care follows.

What If Soap, Shampoo, or Sunscreen Gets in the Eye?

Mild irritants like soap, shampoo, sunscreen, sweat, or pool water can sting and cause redness.

• Rinse the eye gently with clean water or saline.
• Have your child avoid rubbing.

If symptoms improve quickly and vision is normal, it may be simple irritation.

Call the eye doctor if there is:

• Ongoing pain
• Light sensitivity
• Blurry vision
• Redness that does not improve
• Swelling
• Discharge
• Trouble opening the eye
• Contact lens wear
• Concern that the product was stronger than a mild irritant

Sunscreen and shampoo usually irritate, but symptoms that persist should be checked.

What If Pool Chemicals Get in the Eye?

Pool water can irritate the eyes, but pool chemicals are different.

If concentrated pool chemicals splash into the eye, treat it like a chemical injury.

Start flushing immediately and seek medical care.

Do not wait.

If the irritation is from swimming in normal pool water, rinse the face and eyes gently and avoid rubbing. Call if pain, light sensitivity, blurry vision, redness, or irritation continues.

Children who wear contact lenses should not swim in contacts because water exposure can increase infection risk.

What If Your Child Wears Contact Lenses?

Contact lens wear changes the situation.

If your child wears contacts and has an eye injury, redness, pain, light sensitivity, or blurry vision, the contact lenses should come out if they can be removed easily.

Then call the eye doctor.

• Do not let your child keep wearing contacts through symptoms.
• Do not put in a fresh lens to see if it feels better.
• Do not wear contacts after swimming, chemical exposure, trauma, or a scratch until the eye doctor says it is safe.

Every contact lens wearer needs backup glasses for exactly this reason.

What If Your Child Was Hit in the Eye During Sports?

Sports eye injuries should be checked promptly if there are symptoms.

Call the eye doctor or seek urgent care if your child has:

• Pain
• Blurry vision
• Double vision
• Light sensitivity
• Blood in the eye
• Significant swelling
• Trouble opening the eye
• New flashes or floaters
• A curtain or shadow
• Headache, dizziness, vomiting, or concussion symptoms
• Trouble moving the eye
• A hit from a ball, bat, stick, racket, elbow, or finger

Contacts may help your child see during sports, but they do not protect the eye.

Regular glasses are also not the same as protective sport eyewear.

If your child plays sports, ask about prescription sport goggles or protective eyewear.

Which Sports Cause Eye Injuries?

Eye injuries can happen in many activities, but some sports have higher risk because of balls, sticks, elbows, fingers, fast movement, or close contact.

Sports to think about include:

• Basketball
• Baseball
• Softball
• Soccer
• Lacrosse
• Hockey
• Tennis
• Racquetball
• Squash
• Martial arts
• Football
• Volleyball
• Field hockey
• Wrestling
• Paintball
• Mountain biking

Children who have reduced vision in one eye, amblyopia, prior eye surgery, prior eye injury, or only one strong seeing eye should be especially careful with protective eyewear.

What If Your Child Has a Concussion Too?

Eye injuries and concussions can happen together.

If your child was hit in the head or face, watch for concussion symptoms such as:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Balance problems
• Light sensitivity
• Blurry vision
• Double vision
• Trouble reading
• Screen intolerance
• Fatigue
• Memory problems
• Behavior changes

Follow your pediatrician, sports medicine, or emergency care guidance for concussion concerns.

If visual symptoms persist after a concussion, the eyes should also be evaluated.

A child can see 20/20 and still have focusing, eye teaming, tracking, or light sensitivity problems after a concussion.

What If Your Child Gets Poked in the Eye?

Finger pokes are common.

They can cause scratches, irritation, redness, tearing, and pain.

• Do not rub the eye.
• Do not use someone else’s drops.

Call the eye doctor if your child has pain, light sensitivity, blurry vision, redness, tearing, or trouble opening the eye.

A fingernail scratch can be painful and may need treatment.

Even if the eye looks okay, symptoms matter.

What If the Injury Was from a Pencil, Stick, or Sharp Object?

Sharp object injuries should be treated more seriously.

A pencil, stick, toy edge, branch, tool, or projectile can scratch or penetrate the eye.

If you suspect a sharp injury:

• Do not press on the eye
• Do not remove an embedded object
• Do not rinse if there is concern for an open globe injury unless there was chemical exposure
• Protect the eye with a shield if available
• Seek emergency care

Sharp object injuries can look small on the outside and still be serious.

What If the Eyelid Is Cut?

A small superficial cut near the eye may not involve the eyeball, but eyelid cuts can be more complicated than cuts elsewhere.

The eyelid protects the eye and contains important structures.

Call or seek care if:

• The cut is deep
• The cut crosses the eyelid margin
• There is bleeding that does not stop
• The cut is near the tear drainage area
• The eye itself may be injured
• The child has blurry vision
• The injury was from a bite, sharp object, or dirty object
• The eyelid is badly swollen
• The child cannot open the eye
• Stitches may be needed

Do not ignore eyelid cuts because they are close to the eye.

What If the Eye Is Swollen Shut?

If swelling is mild and your child can open the eye, see clearly, and has minimal discomfort, call the office for guidance.

If the eye is swollen shut, your child should be checked.

You need to know whether the eye itself is okay.

Swelling that prevents the eye from opening can hide a more serious injury.

Seek prompt care if swelling is significant, worsening, painful, or associated with vision changes, fever, double vision, trouble moving the eye, or trauma.

What If the Pupil Looks Different?

A change in pupil shape or size after injury is concerning.

The pupil should usually look round and similar to the other eye.

Call urgently if the pupil:

• Looks misshapen
• Is much larger or smaller than the other side
• Does not react normally to light
• Looks off center
• Is associated with pain or blurry vision

A pupil change after trauma needs prompt evaluation.

What If Your Child Sees Flashes or Floaters After Injury?

New flashes, floaters, shadows, or a curtain after trauma should be checked urgently.

These symptoms can be related to the retina or the inside of the eye.

Call the eye doctor right away if your child reports:

• New floaters
• Flashes of light
• A curtain or shadow
• Missing side vision
• Sudden blurry vision
• Vision loss

Do not assume it is from crying or rubbing.

The retina needs to be checked.

What If Your Child Says the Eye Feels Fine Now?

Symptoms can improve quickly after a minor bump.

That is reassuring, but it is not the only factor.

You should still be careful if the injury involved:

• High speed object
• Sharp object
• Chemical exposure
• Contact lens wear
• Sports impact
• Blood in the eye
• A very young child who cannot explain symptoms
• Prior eye surgery
• One strong seeing eye
• Any vision change at any point

When in doubt, call.

It is better to ask early than miss an injury.

What Not to Do After an Eye Injury

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Do not rub the eye
• Do not press on the eye
• Do not squeeze the eyelids hard
• Do not remove an embedded object
• Do not use old prescription drops
• Do not share drops from another family member
• Do not use redness drops to hide symptoms
• Do not patch the eye unless instructed
• Do not let a contact lens wearer keep wearing contacts with symptoms
• Do not delay flushing a chemical exposure
• Do not assume a sports eye injury is fine because swelling is mild
• Do not ignore blurry vision or light sensitivity

The wrong home treatment can make some injuries worse.

What Parents Can Safely Do Right Away

For mild injuries while you are deciding what care is needed, you can:

• Keep your child from rubbing the eye
• Wash your hands before touching around the eye
• Use a gentle cold compress for a blunt hit without pressing
• Rinse immediately for chemical exposure
• Remove contact lenses if easy and safe
• Use backup glasses instead of contacts
• Keep your child calm
• Call the eye doctor for guidance
• Seek urgent care if warning signs are present
• Bring product containers for chemical exposures

If the injury seems more than minor, do not try to manage it alone.

Should You Use Ice?

For a blunt injury around the eye, a cold compress may help swelling.

• Use a clean cloth with cold water or wrapped ice pack.
• Do not put ice directly on the skin.
• Do not press hard on the eye.
• Use gentle contact over the closed eyelid or surrounding area.

If there is eye pain, vision change, blood, or trouble opening the eye, cold compresses are not enough.

Your child needs care.

Should You Rinse the Eye?

Rinsing is important for chemical exposure and sometimes for loose debris or mild irritants.

Rinsing is not the right answer for every injury.

If there is a sharp object injury or concern that the eye may be cut or punctured, do not rinse unless there was chemical exposure.

If a chemical is involved, flushing comes first because chemicals can continue damaging the eye.

When unsure, call emergency care or the eye doctor.

Should You Cover the Eye?

For some serious injuries, a protective shield may be helpful to prevent pressure or rubbing while getting emergency care.

• Do not press a patch against the eye.
• Do not tape something tightly over the eye.
• Do not put pressure on an eye that may be injured.

If you suspect an object is embedded or the eye may be punctured, seek emergency care and avoid pressure.

Should You Give Pain Medicine?

For mild discomfort, you can follow your pediatrician’s usual guidance for age appropriate pain relief.

But pain medicine should not replace an eye exam when warning signs are present.

If your child has severe eye pain, light sensitivity, blurry vision, blood in the eye, or trouble opening the eye, they need medical evaluation.

Do not use numbing drops at home unless directly prescribed and supervised by a doctor.

Why Numbing Drops Are Not for Home Use

Numbing drops can make the eye feel better temporarily, but they can be dangerous if misused.

They can delay care and may interfere with healing if used repeatedly.

They should only be used by medical professionals or exactly as directed in a supervised treatment plan.

If your child has eye pain, the answer is not to numb it at home.

The answer is to find out why it hurts.

What Will the Eye Doctor Check?

After an eye injury, the exam may include:

• Vision in each eye
• Pupil response
• Eye movement
• Eyelid and surrounding tissue
• Cornea check for scratches
• Front of the eye check for inflammation or blood
• Eye pressure when appropriate
• Dilated retinal exam when needed
• Contact lens related injury check
• Referral if a more serious injury is found

The exact exam depends on the injury.

A child who got sunscreen in the eye may need a different exam than a child hit by a baseball.

Why Vision Should Be Checked

Vision is one of the most important clues after an eye injury.

If your child’s vision is blurry, dim, distorted, doubled, or different from usual, the eye should be checked.

Even if the eyelid injury looks minor, vision change matters.

For younger children, you may not be able to get a perfect answer.

Watch behavior.

• Are they keeping one eye closed?
• Are they reaching differently?
• Are they bumping into things?
• Are they saying the eye feels funny?

When a young child cannot explain, it is better to check.

What If Your Child Is Too Young to Describe Symptoms?

Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers may not say what is wrong.

They may show symptoms by:

• Crying
• Refusing to open the eye
• Rubbing
• Blinking constantly
• Tearing
• Turning away from light
• Acting unusually clingy
• Holding a hand over the eye
• Not tracking normally
• Becoming very quiet or irritable

Do not wait for a young child to describe blurry vision.

If the injury involved the eye and the child is acting uncomfortable, call.

Eye Injuries and School

If your child has an eye injury at school, ask what happened.

Helpful questions include:

• What hit the eye?
• Was it sharp or blunt?
• Was it high speed?
• Did it happen in PE, recess, science lab, art, or sports?
• Was there chemical exposure?
• Did the child report blurry vision?
• Did the eye water or stay closed?
• Did the nurse check vision?
• Was there swelling or bleeding?
• Did symptoms improve or worsen?

This information helps the eye doctor decide how urgent the visit is.

Eye Injuries at Home

Many eye injuries happen at home.

Common causes include:

• Toys
• Fingernails
• Sibling play
• Pets
• Cleaning products
• Detergent pods
• Aerosol sprays
• Cooking splashes
• Yard tools
• Craft supplies
• Pencils
• Elastic bands
• Nerf style toys
• Fireworks
• Sports equipment

Prevention matters because many eye injuries can be avoided with safer habits and protective eyewear.

How to Prevent Eye Injuries at Home

Helpful prevention steps include:

• Keep chemicals out of reach
• Avoid allowing young children to handle cleaning products
• Use protective eyewear for yard work and projects
• Choose age appropriate toys
• Avoid toys with sharp points or projectiles when unsafe
• Supervise craft tools
• Teach children not to run with pencils or sticks
• Keep fireworks away from children
• Use caution with elastic bands and toy weapons
• Make protective eyewear normal during risky activities

Eye safety is not only for sports.

It matters at home too.

How to Prevent Sports Eye Injuries

For sports, ask whether your child needs protective eyewear.

• Regular glasses are not the same as sport goggles.
• Contact lenses are not eye protection.
• Protective eyewear should match the sport and fit properly.

This is especially important if your child:

• Plays a ball sport
• Plays a racquet sport
• Uses sticks or bats
• Has a strong prescription
• Has amblyopia
• Has only one strong seeing eye
• Had a prior eye injury
• Had eye surgery
• Plays competitively
• Breaks glasses during sports

The best time to think about eye protection is before the injury.

What About Kids with One Strong Seeing Eye?

If your child has good vision in only one eye, eye protection is especially important.

This may include children with:

• Amblyopia
• A history of eye trauma
• Significant vision difference between eyes
• Eye disease affecting one eye
• Previous surgery
• Permanent vision loss in one eye

Protecting the stronger eye becomes a major priority.

Ask the eye doctor what protective eyewear is recommended for school, sports, home projects, and play.

Eye Injury Care at Pediatric & Family Vision

At Pediatric & Family Vision, we see children, teens, and adults for many types of urgent and medical eye concerns, including eye injuries, red eyes, scratches, contact lens problems, chemical irritation, sports related eye symptoms, and vision changes after trauma.

If your child gets hit in the eye, scratched, poked, exposed to a chemical, or develops pain, light sensitivity, blurry vision, swelling, or redness after an injury, call for guidance.

• Some injuries can be monitored with simple care.
• Some need a same day exam.
• Some need emergency care or referral.

The goal is to protect the eye and avoid missing something that could affect vision.

When it comes to eye injuries, it is better to ask early.

A child’s eye is worth checking.