Corneal Abrasions
The cornea is the clear, outer window of the eye. A corneal abrasion
is simply a scratch in the epithelium (skin), or the thin, outer layer
of the cornea. Abrasions usually heal in a short time period, sometimes
within hours. Deeper or larger scratches may take up to a week. The cornea
has a tremendous number of nerve endings, which makes any damage to the
cornea very painful.
A corneal abrasion is simply a scratch in
the outer layer of the cornea
Symptoms of corneal abrasions:
- History of a recent eye trauma
- Watery eyes
- Acute pain
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurry vision
- The feeling that there's something in your eye
- Twitching eyelid
Causes of corneal abrasions:
- Foreign body in the eye
- Contact lenses
- Chemicals
- Blow to the eye
- Scratched eye (fingernails, hairbrushes, tree branches, etc).
Diagnosing corneal abrasions:
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Your doctor will examine
your eyes with a magnifying instrument |
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Your eye doctor can identify corneal abrasions by examining your eyes
with magnifying instruments. Your doctor will check your eye, including
under your eyelid, to make sure there are no foreign materials present.
Depending on the initial exam, fluorescein dye may be used to help locate
and identify the corneal abrasions. A test called the Seidel test (painting
the wound with dye and observing for leakage) may be performed to uncover
possible deeper injuries.
Treating corneal abrasions:
Your doctor may apply a topical anesthesia to help relieve the pain.
Usually, a tight patch will be placed over the eye and if the abrasion
is small, the epithelium should heal overnight. If the abrasion is large,
it may take a few days and your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help
prevent infections. It is important that you do not rub your eye, especially
during the healing process.
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