How long should you rinse a chemical out of the eye?

• A. 5 minutes
• B. 10 minutes
• C. 15 minutes
• D. 20 minutes

Answer: (C)

Rinsing the eye after a chemical splash is about rapidly diluting and flushing away the irritant to limit ongoing tissue damage. The standard guidance is to irrigate continuously for at least fifteen minutes with clean running water or saline, keeping the eyelids open and directing the flow from the inner corner toward the outer corner. If possible, continue irrigation until emergency care is available or the eye pH is neutralized and symptoms improve, especially with strong or caustic substances. Shorter rinses, like five or ten minutes, may not remove enough chemical, so fifteen minutes is the best-supported minimum in this context.