Taken a party popper to the eye?

Minor irritation or injury to the front of the eye usually doesn't require medical treatment and should clear up within 24 hours.

If you experience discomfort, painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen may help.

Don't touch or rub your eye, apply pressure to it or wear contact lenses until it's fully healed to prevent further damage.

See your GP or optician if you have any concerns about your injury or if it's not better within 24 hours.

When to seek immediate medical advice

You should go immediately to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department if you have:

• Persistent or severe eye pain
• Foreign bodies that can't be washed out
• Decreased or double vision
• Flashing lights, spots, halos or shadows in your field of vision
• Blood visible in your eye
• An irregularly shaped pupil (the black dot at the centre of the eye)
• Pain when exposed to bright light
• Deep cuts around your eye
• Your eye is sticking out of your eye socket

You should also go to A&E if your injury was caused by an object flying at speed – for example, a projectile flung from an angle grinder; a very sharp object, such as glass or a knife; or chemical exposure. Flush your eye for at least 10 to 15 minutes before going.