What To Do if You Get Sunscreen in Your Eyes

Sunscreen is great for protecting your skin, but it can sting if it gets into your eyes. It’s important to know what to do if this happens so you can relieve the pain quickly and avoid further irritation.

Below, we list the steps to clean sunscreen out of the eyes and explain when your symptoms need medical attention. We also share some prevention tips and eye-friendly sunblock recommendations.

How to Get Sunscreen Out of Eyes

If you accidentally get sunscreen in your eyes, don’t panic! Follow these simple steps to rinse it out safely: 

1. Wash your hands – Suntan lotion can easily transfer to your fingertips from other application areas. Prevent further irritation by washing your hands before touching around your eyes. 
2. Rinse your eyes with clean water – Use lukewarm, running water from a sink or a bottle. Tilt your head to the side and gently pour or run water over the affected eye, allowing it to flow out. You can also use a saline solution if you have it. 
3. Remove contact lenses – If you’re wearing contacts, gently take them out and rinse them thoroughly with contact lens solution. 
4. Blink – Blinking will encourage the eye’s natural tear production to help flush out any remaining sunscreen. 
5. Use artificial tears or saline drops – These can help soothe your eye if the stinging or burning persists. Do NOT use medicated eye drops to wash away remaining sunscreen residue. 
6. Let your eyes rest – After flushing your eyes, give them some time to recover from the trauma they just went through. If available, drape a cold washcloth across your eyes and keep them closed for around half an hour.

While many people’s initial reaction to getting something in their eye is to rub it, you should avoid doing so. Rubbing your eyes can make things worse by spreading the sunblock or causing more irritation.

Symptoms to Watch For

After rinsing out the sunscreen in your eyes, they might still feel uncomfortable for a little while. Here are some symptoms you may notice:

• Redness

• Tearing

• Burning or stinging

• Blurred vision

• Light sensitivity

Most of these symptoms should go away within 15 to 30 minutes. If they persist after following the instructions above, you might need to see a doctor.

Preventing Sunscreen in Eyes

The best way to deal with suntan lotion in your eyes is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are a few tips to getting UV protection while avoiding the stinging and burning of sunscreen in your eyes:

• Use sunblock sticks – SPF sticks are great for applying sunscreen to the face because they’re easier to control and less likely to drip into your eyes. 

• Avoid applying sunscreen too close to your eyes – Stay at least an inch away from your eyes when applying SPF. 

• Wear sunglasses or a hat – By keeping the eye area covered with a hat and sunglasses, you won’t have to apply suntan lotion so closely to the eyes, which can prevent it from running into them. 

• Use mineral-based sunscreens – Unlike chemical sunscreens, mineral sunblock is safe for sensitive skin and won’t burn or sting your eyes if it gets into them. 

• Look for “tear-free” or “sensitive” SPF formulas – These are often gentler on your eyes if some accidentally gets in.

Alternative Remedies to Clean Sunscreen Out of Your Eyes

If you don’t have access to a sink or shower when sunblock gets in your eyes, here are a few alternative remedies you can try:

• Wet a towel or cloth with water and place it over the eyes. The cool temperature can help reduce burning or stinging and soothe the area while your tears work to flush the sunscreen out of your eyes.

• Blinking frequently can help your eyes produce tears to naturally wash out the suntan lotion if you don’t have access to water.

When to See a Doctor

If your symptoms don’t improve after rinsing your eyes, or if they get worse, it’s important to contact a doctor. Some warning signs that you should see a doctor include: 

• Severe pain that doesn’t improve after rinsing 

• Lasting vision changes, like persistent blurred or double vision 

• Swelling or discharge from your eye 

• Sudden loss of vision 

• An allergic reaction to the sunscreen ingredients, which may result in hives, itching, swelling, or blistering 

These could be signs of a more serious issue, so it’s best to get help from an eye doctor or medical professional.

FAQs

What should I do if my child gets sunscreen in their eyes? 

If your child gets sunblock in their eyes, the first thing to do is keep them calm and stop them from rubbing their eyes. Rubbing can cause more irritation or push the suntan lotion deeper into the eye.  

Gently rinse their eyes with lukewarm water immediately. Use clean running water from a sink or shower, or if you’re outside, use bottled water. Tilt your child’s head to the side and pour water over the affected eye, making sure to keep their eyelids open to help flush out the sunscreen. Continue rinsing for 10 to 15 minutes, and encourage them to blink, as this helps clear the eye naturally. 

After rinsing, check for signs of continued irritation like redness, swelling, or tearing. If the stinging or redness lasts longer than half an hour, or if your child experiences severe pain or vision problems, it’s important to contact a doctor to rule out more serious damage. 

Can sunscreen damage your eyes permanently? 

While suntan lotion in your eyes results in temporary discomfort, it does not usually lead to permanent damage. The ingredients in sunblock can irritate the sensitive surface of the eyes, but with prompt and thorough rinsing, the discomfort typically goes away within 30 minutes.

Can sunscreen in eyes cause blindness? 

It is very unlikely that getting suntan lotion in your eyes will cause blindness. While the ingredients in sunscreen can irritate the eyes and cause temporary issues such as blurred vision, watering, and burning, these effects are usually not severe enough to cause permanent vision loss.  

Immediate flushing of the eyes with water helps to remove the sunblock and reduce irritation, allowing the eye to heal quickly. However, if sunscreen remains in the eye for an extended period without being rinsed out, there could be a risk of corneal damage, which may require medical help. While this could cause temporary vision issues, blindness is extremely rare.

Are there any specific brands of sunscreen that are safer for the eyes?

Some sunblocks are designed to be safer for sensitive areas like the face and eyes. Look for “tear-free,” “eye-safe,” or “sensitive skin” formulas, which tend to be gentler and less likely to cause irritation if they accidentally get into the eyes.  

Mineral sunscreens, which contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as active ingredients, are often gentler on the eyes compared to chemical sunscreens. These minerals create a physical barrier on the skin rather than being absorbed into it, reducing the risk of eye irritation.

Keeping Your Eyes Safe While Protecting Your Skin

Sunscreen is important for skin protection, but it’s essential to know how to handle accidents like getting it in your eyes. By acting quickly and following these tips, you can relieve the discomfort and avoid further issues.

If someone experiences prolonged pain, severe irritation, or changes in vision that do not resolve after rinsing, seek medical attention. An eye doctor can evaluate the condition and provide further treatment if necessary.