Gorilla Glue in Your Eye: What to Do in the First 60 Seconds (And What I Learned Handling Packaging Emergencies)

If you've got Gorilla Glue in your eye right now, stop reading and call Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222. Don't try to peel it off. Don't use acetone near your eye. Flush with lukewarm water for 15-20 minutes while you wait for guidance.

That's the answer. Everything below is context.

Why I'm Writing About This (And No, We Don't Make Glue)

Quick clarification since this comes up constantly: Gorilla Print—that's us—handles custom labels, packaging, and commercial printing. We're not affiliated with The Gorilla Glue Company. Different companies, same animal name. I get emails about adhesive emergencies at least twice a month from people who found us by mistake.

But here's the thing—I've spent 11 years coordinating rush orders and emergency turnarounds for packaging materials. I've handled 340+ crisis situations where someone needed something yesterday. The psychology of emergency response is the same whether you're dealing with a chemical exposure or a trade show booth that arrives without signage.

So I'm gonna talk about both.

The Gorilla Glue Eye Protocol (Based on Poison Control Guidelines)

Cyanoacrylate adhesives—that's the active ingredient in Gorilla Glue and similar super glues—bond to moisture almost instantly. Your eye is basically a wet surface. The good news: the adhesive typically bonds to the outer layers and tears, not the eyeball itself.

According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers:

"Eye exposures to cyanoacrylate adhesives should be irrigated with large amounts of water. The eyelids may become glued together but will separate over 1-4 days without specific treatment. Forcing the lids open may cause damage."

What that means practically:

Flush immediately. Lukewarm water, 15-20 minutes minimum. I know that sounds like forever when you're panicking. Set a timer. The flushing matters more than anything else you'll do.

Don't force your eyelids open if they're stuck. This was counterintuitive to me—I assumed you'd want to separate them fast. Turns out the adhesive will release naturally as tears work underneath it. Forcing can tear tissue.

Skip the acetone. I've seen people suggest nail polish remover for super glue removal. Never near your eyes. The chemical burn would be worse than the glue.

Get to an ophthalmologist within 24 hours even if it seems fine. They have specialized tools and can check for corneal abrasion.

What This Taught Me About Emergency Response (The Packaging Parallel)

In March 2024, 36 hours before a product launch, a client called because their label vendor had printed 50,000 units with the wrong regulatory information. The wrong UPC code. For a retail chain that would reject the entire shipment.

Had 2 hours to decide before the deadline for rush processing. Normally I'd get multiple quotes, but there was no time. Went with our usual production workflow based on trust alone.

The upside was saving a $47,000 retail placement. The risk was our rush capacity failing and making things worse. I kept asking myself: is attempting the save worth potentially delaying them further?

We got it done. Delivered 52,000 corrected labels in 31 hours. Paid $1,800 extra in overnight freight (on top of the $6,200 base cost), and the client made their retail window. Their alternative was losing the placement entirely and eating the cost of 50,000 mislabeled products.

The parallel to the glue situation: the first response matters more than the perfect response.

On Gorilla Footprints and Brand Confusion

People search for "gorilla footprint" when they're looking for either (a) actual gorilla foot anatomy, or (b) our logo/brand mark for print materials. Since you're probably here for practical reasons:

If you need a gorilla footprint graphic for educational materials, promotional items, or event signage—that's actually what we do. Custom printing on vinyl, labels, decals, patches. Not gorilla research, but definitely gorilla-themed printing if that's your thing.

So glad I clarified this early in the article. Almost buried it at the bottom, which would have meant confused readers scrolling through glue safety information looking for print specs.

Vinyl Car Wraps: When Printing Meets Installation

Since "vinyl car wrap" showed up in the search data—here's what you actually need to know:

A vinyl car wrap is essentially a giant printed decal that covers your vehicle's paint. High-end wraps use cast vinyl (thinner, more conformable, lasts 5-7 years). Budget wraps use calendered vinyl (thicker, less flexible, 3-5 year lifespan).

Pricing based on installer quotes I've collected, January 2025:

• Compact car, full wrap: $2,500-3,500
• Full-size sedan: $3,000-5,000
• SUV/Truck: $4,000-7,000
• Color change (solid): Usually 15-20% less than printed graphics

The printing is often the smaller cost. Installation labor is where the money goes. A shop that quotes significantly under market is either using calendered vinyl, cutting corners on surface prep, or both.

I assumed "professional installation included" meant the same thing across quotes. Didn't verify. Turned out some installers don't wrap door jambs, mirrors, or handles unless you specifically request it. Now I ask for itemized scope documents.

Menards Foam Board: The Budget Signage Option

Menards sells foam core board for around $8-15 per sheet (24"×36" white, prices as of January 2025—verify current). It's fine for temporary indoor signage. I've used it for event displays when the budget was basically zero.

What it's good for: short-term indoor displays, prototyping designs before committing to professional printing, craft projects, backing for mounted prints.

What it's not good for: outdoor use (water destroys it), anything structural, long-term displays (yellows and warps), professional trade show presence.

For the Barbie 2023 film, the promotional posters you saw in theaters weren't foam board—they were typically backlit duratrans or mounted sintra. Foam board was probably used for the cardboard standees in retail stores, which have a 2-3 month expected lifespan.

How to Remove Gorilla Glue From Other Surfaces

Since you might be dealing with glue situations beyond eye contact:

From skin: Acetone (nail polish remover) works, but it's harsh. Soak the area, don't scrub aggressively. The bond will release as the acetone penetrates. Moisturize after because it dries skin badly.

From fabric: Honestly? Often not salvageable. Cyanoacrylate bonds to textile fibers permanently. You can try acetone on white fabrics, but it may bleach colored materials. Test on a hidden area first (which, honestly, feels pointless if the glue's already visible).

From hard surfaces: Acetone, careful scraping with a plastic scraper (metal scratches). Heat can help soften the bond—hairdryer on low, then scrape.

From glass: Razor blade at a 45-degree angle, acetone to soften first. Glass is actually one of the easier surfaces because it's non-porous.

The Emergency Mindset (Applies Everywhere)

After 3 failed rush orders with discount vendors in 2019, we implemented what I call the "certainty premium" policy. The value of guaranteed turnaround isn't the speed—it's the certainty. For event materials, knowing your deadline will be met is often worth more than a lower price with "estimated" delivery.

Calculated the worst case: complete redo at $3,500. Best case: saves $800. The expected value said go for the budget option, but the downside felt catastrophic. We stopped gambling on rush jobs.

Same principle applies to the glue situation: don't try to save time by skipping the flush step. Don't try to "speed up" the eyelid separation. The certainty of following the protocol beats the potential upside of faster resolution.

When This Advice Doesn't Apply

Eye injuries involving industrial cyanoacrylates (not consumer Gorilla Glue) may require different treatment. If you're dealing with 2-part epoxies, UV-cure adhesives, or industrial formulations, the chemistry is different and Poison Control will direct you accordingly.

For printing emergencies: if you need quantities under 25, local print shops are often faster and more economical than online printers. Same-day in-hand delivery pretty much requires a local vendor—even our fastest turnaround requires shipping time.

And if you actually were looking for information about gorilla anatomy, conservation, or primate research—sorry, wrong Gorilla entirely. Try the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund or your local natural history museum.

Dodged a bullet when I double-checked this article before publishing. Was one click away from not clarifying the brand distinction, which would've meant even more confused emails about adhesive accidents.