It's only OOOOOUUUCCCHHH if there's a OOPS first!. Actually the eye gets numbed with drops and the Doc uses the side of the beveled end to remove something that's imbedded on the surface. quick, easy and little pain. You can also use it to check if a person is really paralized, by sticking it in the sole of the foot....but that's another story. I should also point out that sometimes a magnet can be used to get metalic foreign bodies out of the eye. Watching the 18 gauge trick can be a little creepy.