What to Do If OxiClean Gets in the Eye

When using cleaning products, such as OxiClean, take proper safety precautions to avoid injury. This may include wearing safety goggles, working in a well-ventilated area and keeping dangerous products out of the reach of children. Accidents still happen, though, and when they do, the proper first aid steps should be followed to ensure minimal damage and rapid recovery.

According to the manufacturer (see Resources), flushing your eye is the first step to take if you get OxiClean in your eye. The simplest way to do this is to rinse your eye with tap water. If that is too difficult or doesn't seem effective enough, step into the shower (with your clothes on, to save time), and let the water run into your eye. Flushing will be most effective if you keep your eye open as much as possible while the water runs over it. Keep flushing the eye for at least 10 minutes, since the longer you flush, the more sure you can be that any remaining particles have been removed.

After a thorough flushing, pay attention to the condition of your eye. After 24 to 48 hours, if you are still experiencing discomfort, redness, tearing, burning or a loss of vision, call your ophthalmologist for a same-day appointment, or go to your emergency room. A phone call to Poison Control could be useful (800-222-1222) to find out more specific information about the chemicals in OxiClean.

Usually, for an injury of this nature, your doctor will continue to flush your eye. Local anesthesia may be applied to help relieve discomfort, as your doctor examines your eye to look for remaining foreign matter. Your doctor will most likely follow this with an assessment of the damage, if any, to your eye or eyelid. This will also include an eye exam to determine if vision has been impaired. If necessary, you may be sent home with oral pain medications and eye drops.