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Eye and ear irrigation

  • Procedure

A gentle stream of liquid flushes chemicals or particles from the eye, or wax from the ear canal; in a chemical splash, flushing starts at once.

Updated

What it is

Eye irrigation flushes chemicals, particles or discharge from the eye with plenty of saline or clean water. In a chemical splash it is the first treatment and starts immediately, for at least 15 minutes, before any other step. Ear irrigation removes wax or a foreign body from the external ear canal with liquid close to body temperature; it is not done if the eardrum may be perforated or after recent ear surgery. Both need gentle pressure, a protected patient and an assessment before and after.

Indications

  • Eye: a chemical splash (an emergency).
  • Eye: loose particles or debris on the eye or eyelid, or discharge.
  • Ear: wax blocking the external canal, on order.
  • Ear: a foreign body in the external canal, on order.

Contraindications and precautions

  • Object stuck in the eye or possible penetrating injury: do not irrigate or press; protect the eye and call.
  • Do not rub the eye, and do not touch the coloured part of the eye with swabs or instruments.
  • Ear: possible perforated eardrum, recent ear surgery, ear pain, discharge or fever need assessment before any irrigation.
  • Do not use cold liquid in the ear: it can cause intense dizziness.
  • Do not use high-pressure jets or cotton swabs inside the ear canal.

Equipment

  • Sterile saline in enough quantity, an irrigation set or bottle; for the ear, a large needle-free syringe or a bottle with a soft tip.
  • Kidney dish or basin, towels and a waterproof pad.
  • Clean gloves and eye protection.
  • Gauze to dry the eyelids or the outer ear.
  • Light source and the record sheet.

Step by step (and why)

  1. Identify the patient, explain, and assess eye or ear and the history — finds contraindications and gives a baseline.
  2. Eye: tilt the head toward the affected side over a towel and basin — liquid runs away from the other eye.
  3. Hold the lids open and run a gentle stream from inner to outer corner while the eye looks around — reaches every surface.
  4. Keep flushing for the time the protocol sets, at least 15 minutes for chemicals — dilutes and removes the agent.
  5. Ear: confirm no perforation or recent ear surgery and warm the liquid close to body temperature — avoids injury and dizziness.
  6. Sit the patient up with the basin under the ear; adults: pull the outer ear up and back, children: straight back.
  7. Aim a gentle stream along the canal wall, let it drain and look at the return — avoids hitting the eardrum.
  8. Stop if there is pain or dizziness; dry the outer ear and recheck — irrigation should not hurt.
  9. Record the solution, duration, what came out, the findings and tolerance — allows follow-up.

Complications

  • Eye: corneal injury from pressure or from touching the eye with the device.
  • Eye: contaminating the other eye.
  • Ear: dizziness, nausea or pain.
  • Ear: perforation of the eardrum or infection of the canal (rare).
  • Wax or particles that are not fully removed.

Next step: when to call for help

  • After any chemical splash, the patient needs medical review once flushing is done.
  • Call for eye pain or redness that persists, blurred or double vision, or a possible cut or penetrating injury.
  • Call for ear pain, bleeding, sudden hearing loss, discharge, fever or dizziness that does not settle.
  • If the wax does not come out, stop and tell the treating team instead of repeating many times.

Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

What is the first action when a chemical splashes into the eye?

Flush at once with a gentle stream of saline or clean water for at least 15 minutes, then arrange medical review.

Why is the head tilted toward the affected eye during irrigation?

So the liquid runs from the inner to the outer corner and away from the other eye, without contaminating it.

Why should liquid for ear irrigation be close to body temperature?

Because cooler liquid in the ear canal can cause brief but intense dizziness.

When is ear irrigation not done?

When the eardrum may be perforated or after recent ear surgery; ear pain, discharge or fever need assessment first.

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Connections

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Educational content for students; it does not replace your institution's protocols, supervised clinical training or a prescriber's order. Dose-calculation examples use made-up numbers: they are educational, not a clinical order.

Sources: Eye emergencies: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, 2026); Earwax: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, 2026); Nursing Skills, 16.2: Basic Concepts (administration of medications via other routes) (Open RN (Chippewa Valley Technical College), LibreTexts, 2021).

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