Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
As First Officer; I was doing my walk around to insure the safety of the aircraft. It was windy out and it was starting to sprinkle. As I was looking up at the tail and the number 1 engine; it seemed like a rain drop hit my right eye directly. I thought it was a rain drop; however; my eye started to burn very badly right away. Ground handling was right there and I asked to be taken to the eye wash station. I got there within a minute and started to flush my eye out for 15 minutes. I asked them to let the Captain know; and also requested airport EMS (Emergency Medical Services). Airport EMS checked me out and did not see any physical damage but noted my eye was very red and a little swollen. Airport EMS also called poison control and the things I were doing were correct. I also went to the hospital. They tested my vision; it remained 20/15 with both eyes. They checked for damage of the eye and abrasion; nothing found. They checked pH levels and they were normal. The doctor mentioned that my reaction to flush out my eye did most of her work and helped immensely with my eye. The doctor said eyes heal quickly and would take 24 hours to be normal again but to keep an eye on it.The burning sensation caused me to immediately seek a eye wash station.Some liquid form of either oil; hydraulic fluid or a water down version of that; directly hit my eye. I did not see it coming and was not able to react in time to avoid it.Thankful ground personnel were there to take me to eye wash station and to relay information and get me appropriate help. Having been at a different airport; I am not so sure the outcome would have been the same because sometimes there is no ground personnel nearby. Also the Captain was able to help me immensely with getting things set up while I was washing my eye out.I think knowing where eye wash stations are nearby would be helpful but I think this was just a freak accident. What are the chances a drop of liquid hits your eye directly?
First Officer encountered foreign substance in eye during preflight walkaround inspection.