What to do if hand sanitizer gets in your eye
If you get a little bit of hand sanitizer in your eye, you will reflectively blink and create tears. This is your eye’s natural way of protecting itself from outside particles. This will be similar to getting shampoo in the eye.
If any amount of sanitizer does come into contact with the eye, wash thoroughly with water or sterile saline right away. If symptoms persist, contact Dr. Beeve.
How to avoid hand sanitizer eye injuries
There are some simple adjustments you can make to keep your eyes safe:
- Avoid putting hand sanitizer dispensers at children’s eye height
- Make sure to rub the liquid sanitizer into hands well before touching your face
- Use foam sanitizer to minimize the force at which sanitizer is dispensed
- Keep the nozzle of the bottle clear. Hardened solution can block parts of the nozzle and cause a forceful, upward squirt
