08/06/2026
You are flying down a gorgeous mountain trail, crushing your pace, and out of nowhere, you take a hit. A rogue bug or a massive cloud of dust lands directly in your eye. Your immediate, primal instinct is to aggressively rub your eyelid, but that is exactly how you can turn a minor annoyance into a painful corneal scratch.
Here is your official backcountry survival plan for a mid-ride eye strike:
🛑 Freeze and Step Back: Pull over safely to the side of the trail immediately. Do not attempt to blink it out while moving, and absolutely keep your hands away from your face.
💦 The Water Bottle Flush: Lean your head to the side, hold your eyelid open, and gently sq**rt clean, fresh water from your hydration pack from the inner corner of your eye outward.
🚫 Ditch the Lake Water: Never use lake, river, or stagnant trail water to flush your eyes, as you risk introducing nasty bacteria into a vulnerable area.
👁️ The Eyelid Lift Trick: If the debris is stuck under your upper lid, gently pull the upper lid down over your lower lashes to let them naturally sweep the bug out.
Keep your eyes safe so you can actually enjoy the views. Click the link in our bio to grab some preservative-free saline packets for your trail first-aid kit.