all i can say is

[lauralh]

I chopped up a habanero pepper yesterday and then washed my hands, but apparently not enough, because two hours later, I rubbed my eye and OH LORD. In summary, I am wearing glasses today. I showered and tried to put my contacts back in but the BURNING oh lord. This morning same thing.

any ideas?

Comments

[kaaaty.livejournal.com]

Have you tried one of those eye wash/flush kits?

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

my eye is fine without the contact in. i suspect some chili oil got on it.

[kamakhai.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I HATE it when that happens. Consider wearing gloves when handling hot peppers. If you do touch them with your bare hands, scrub thoroughly with vinegar. If the contacts are disposable, I'd suggest tossing them.. the heat oils may never completely come out.

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

they are my last pair :(

[kamakhai.livejournal.com]

That sucks. You can always try the heavy duty cleaning / protein removal kits.

[jameth.livejournal.com]

You should get another pair. It will be nearly impossible to get the oils out. I did this with peppers once and just ended up throwing them out and putting in a new pair. Contacts are cheap anyway, at least where I go. They are like $15 for a box of regular soft contacts. It is probably not worth the trouble to try and save a pair.

[kamakhai.livejournal.com]

Oh, just a last thought... you know you can order contacts online from Canada without a current prescription, right? Technically you're not supposed to without an up-to-date exam, but they don't exactly make a big deal about checking. Might be quicker and cheaper. I had planned on doing this until I learned my new insurance included vision. Later I learned "vision" apparently doesn't include anything related to contacts and I wished I had just re-ordered my last prescription.

[thesadpunk.livejournal.com]

I read somewhere that if you soak them in milk, it'll help neutralize the oils.

I don't know if that's true, nor have I tried it either. It could just be a giant hoax. Or it could work.

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

i was thinking about that, since that's the only thing that works for the tongue.

[mxtx.livejournal.com]

I was going to recommend the same thing.

[wanton-bliss.livejournal.com]

I too was going to suggest milk, but figured surely out of your huge friends list there would be at least one chemist (or pedantic web-researcher) capable of verifying whether there is any validity to the whole milk thing.

Still, why not try it. If it doesn't work, have some Oreos.

[octal.livejournal.com]

Don't touch your eyes after handling hot peppers.

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

wow, thanks. I never would have thought of that. douche.

[jameth.livejournal.com]

i love you

[jameth.livejournal.com]

Get new contacts?

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

it's on the list, i just need to see an eye doctor, as I haven't in 6 years

[jameth.livejournal.com]

What is your prescription? I am -3.25 if you want a few of my spares!

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

it was -3.5 last time, but I think it got worse.

[jameth.livejournal.com]

oh then i am not quite as blind as u then lol

[atonal.livejournal.com]

good thing you didn't go to the bathroom after handling peppers.





trust me on that one.

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wasn't totally dense: there was actually a brief debate in my head about my tampon.

[atonal.livejournal.com]

ohhhhh boy!!!!!!

i worked at a restaurant where someone SOMEHOW got a small habanero seed stuck in their EYE!

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

HOLY TAMALE!

yup

[iamdonte.livejournal.com]

i know someone that suffered that unfortunate fate. they were not pleased.

[henry.livejournal.com]

In my long-ago pepper spray training they recomended Johnson & Johnson's baby shampoo to counter the effects of being sprayed; it neutralizes the oil and is safe on eyes, might be ok on your contact too.

[heraclitus.livejournal.com]

I was once eating "suicide" chicken wings when I sneezed. Pieces of chicken coated in hot oils entered my sinus cavity, and it took me fifteen minutes of blowing my nose to get them out, leaking pepper sauce down my nostril the entire time like some strand of bloody mucous. The largest piece I got out was the size of a tooth. I couldn't smell anything for a few days.