The bright red bulb of the beet, a nutritious root vegetable, often stains whatever comes in contact with it. If beet juice splashes into your eye, you may notice that you have red spots staining the white of your eye. This does not typically cause a permanent problem, and you will most likely not require medical treatment. Understanding how the staining occurs and what may help clear the spots may help put you at ease.
Staining
The white of your eye has a thin tissue layer covering the surface. This layer, called the conjunctiva, consists of tissue much like the skin on your body. If droplets of beet juice come in contact with the conjunctiva, you will most likely see red stains of beet pigment. Just as beet juice may temporarily stain your skin, the beet juice spots on your eye will not remain permanently.
Clearing Spots
The beet stains will typically clear within a day or a few days, but you should gradually notice a decrease in the intense red color of the spots. If you want to hasten the process, you might try instilling artificial tears, a non-medicated, over-the-counter eye drop that may help "wash" the beet juice off the surface of the eye. In most cases, however, this will not clear the stain immediately, and you will need to simply wait for the stain to resolve on its own.
Prevention
If you plan on canning or preparing a large quantity of beets and worry that you may have red spots from the beet juice, take precautions to prevent staining. For example, avoid rubbing your eyes after touching the beet. You may also choose to wear protective eyewear. Regular eyeglasses may offer some protection, but the beet juice may still splash from under or over the rims of your glasses. A pair of safety glasses that protects from the bottom and the top will provide the best protection.
Considerations
You will most likely not notice that you have beet juice stains on the surface of your eye. However, if you experience pain, discomfort or changes in your vision, this may indicate that you have a beet allergy or other reaction causing your symptoms. Contact your doctor immediately, and she will evaluate your eyes and determine if you require treatment.
