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Suntan lotion and insect repellent in the eyes

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The bottom line

The most important part of taking or giving medicine happens before taking or giving that drug: reading and understanding the label. This is the easiest way to prevent errors and overdoses. All over-the-counter (OTC) medication labels contain Drug Facts: important information about the active ingredient(s), uses, warnings, doses, and directions.

Prevention Tips

  • Rinsing with plenty of running water can help prevent problems if products are splashed into the eyes.

This Really Happened

Case 1: The grandmother of a 3-year-old girl reported that the child's older brother sprayed her in the eyes with an insect repellent. The little girl complained that her eyes hurt, and they looked irritated. A poison center told the child's grandmother how to thoroughly irrigate the eyes. However, the 3-year-old wouldn't allow her grandmother or parents to rinse her eyes so they took her to the nearest emergency room. The emergency physician called a poison center for product information and treatment advice. In the emergency room the child's eyes were flushed with normal saline. The physician then examined her eyes and there was no injury. In a follow-up call from the poison center the next day, the little girl's grandmother said she was doing fine.

Case 2: A 4-year-old boy put sunscreen with insect repellent on his face and got some in his eyes. His mom said his eyes looked red. The poison center told his mom how to irrigate his eyes well in the shower. She reported that after his eyes were flushed as advised, he was fine.

Case 3: A 2-year-old boy rubbed his hands over his skin where his mom had applied sunblock, then touched his eye. He told his mom that his eye hurt. A poison center told her the eye irrigation procedure. After she followed these instructions, the child was back to normal.

The full story

You slather on the sunscreen. Ditto the insect repellent. But, did you ever splash them into your eyes? Here's how to treat those eyes right away:

  1. The most important thing to do is run plenty of water across your eye(s). DON'T WAIT! Get into the shower, trickle water from a hose, pour water from a faucet - the fastest way is the best way. Continue for 15-20 minutes; blink your eyes while the water is running. 

  2. After 15-20 minutes of running water, your eye will probably feel a bit irritated and look red. Rest quietly for 15-30 minutes; give your eye a chance to recover from the running water.

  3. Next, use the webPOISONCONTROL® online tool to get help, or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222 to find out if you can continue treating this at home or if you have to see the doctor.

Remember: if something gets into your eye that doesn't belong there, rinsing it out with running water IMMEDIATELY is the most important thing you can do. Follow these detailed irrigation instructions.

If someone swallows or gets a taste of sunscreen, use the webPOISONCONTROL® online tool to get help, or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Whether online or by phone, expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.

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Serkalem Mekonnen, RN, BSN, MPH
Certified Specialist in Poison Information

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