We get many calls from the ED regarding eye trauma by various objects and substances. Some of them are absurd–how did you get nail glue into your eye again?

I always considered these people who roam into the ED as inferior beings, until I experienced a similar episode days ago.

Somehow grapefruit juice managed to circumvent my glasses and splash into my eye. It was painful. I flushed my eye for about 30 seconds with sterile saline, and felt better afterward. Ideally, I should have flushed even longer, but I had 2 consults to see in the ER.

The next time I triage someone who sprays antiperspirant into their eyes, I’ll think twice before ridiculing them…

medicine ophthalmology