Thank you for all your suggestions - My eye did burn for an hour or two after the event, but I kept dousing it with cold water and it is fine now - bloody hell - it was sore (but then I will admit that I am a bit of a baby!
One of my male friends did the chili thing and then went off to the bathroom - well we laughed at him at the time, but I am quite sympathetic now!
Princess Daisy Boo Boo!