Not sure if anyone can help with this. I have a tiny speck of tree bark or dirt embedded in the surface of my eye. Over the Iris. So small that you can barely see it. Tried flushing with water. Pain is minor but annoying. Any chance it works it's way out or am i going to have to let someone dig around in my eye?

Hard to say. If it doesn't bother you, it might make its way out. But depending on what it is, you increase your risk of infection, which would be bad.

Probably don't need to go to the ER, just call an optometrist or ophthalmologist tomorrow and they should be able to squeeze you in. Sometimes using a cotton swab can help you dig it out if you can tolerate it. If it's really embedded might need a needle. If it's metallic, needs to come out ASAP to prevent a rust ring

Years ago my wife got something in her eye just like that…turned out to be a tiny silicon chip. No idea how it got there. I took her to an ophthalmologist and he said it wasn't going to come out on its own. He then proceeded to tell her that it wasn't going to hurt but he made the giant error of telling her how he was going to do it. We spent the next 30 minutes trying to get her to stop blinking so he could pluck it out. When she finally did stop blinking, he got it out in a flash.

I had a sliver of iron that fell into my eye as I was lifting weights.

Slight itching but I could see it embedded in the cornea.

Called the local ophthalmologist and he said come on immediately.

He numbed my eye with drops then put my head in a "cage" and plucked it out. After, he sanded my cornea smooth. I had to wear an eye patch a couple days.

Worst part was not getting nauseous and fainting.

I tried to go to work the next day but they sent be home with pay - I'm an airline pilot and they didn't want me walking thru the airport with an eye bandage!