What is a Corneal Abrasion and How is it Treated?
A corneal abrasion is like a scratch on the front of the eye. This condition can be excruciatingly painful and may require immediate treatment to relieve the pain and promote healing.
Anatomy of the Cornea
The cornea is the clear portion of the front of the eye that helps to bend light into the eyes.
It is in front of the colored portion of the eye, the iris, and is surrounded by the white of the eye, the sclera.
The cornea does not have any blood vessels inside it which allows the cornea to remain to completely clear.
However, there are many nerves in the cornea. These nerves can perceive pain when anything contacts the front of the eye.
How a Corneal Abrasion Occurs
A corneal abrasion is basically a scratch on the front of the eye. Like a scratch on the skin, if something cuts the front epithelium of the cornea it can create an opening or abrasion.
Common things that can cause an abrasion are fingernails, animal claws, or other sharp objects.
Anything that comes into contact with the front of the eye has the possibility to cause a corneal abrasion.
Symptoms of a Scratched Cornea
If there is a corneal abrasion, the main symptom that will happen is pain. Once the abrasion occurs, there will be intense pain until the abrasion heals.
Other symptoms can include redness, watery eyes, and blurry vision.
An abrasion will not often result in intense redness but may have diffuse mild redness throughout the eye.
The watering eyes and blurry vision may be intermittent and are usually more common immediately after the abrasion occurs.
Treatments of a Corneal Abrasion
A corneal abrasion can be treated with many options including a bandage contact lens, eye drops, or with monitoring for healing.
A bandage contact lens is a contact lens that is designed to protect the cornea as it heals.
Eye drops including antibiotic eye drops can be used with or without a bandage contact lens to help prevent any additional infections.
If there is no treatment needed, the treatment may only be to monitor the abrasion with frequent eye exams until it is resolved.
Preventing a Corneal Abrasion
To prevent a corneal abrasion, it is important to always wear appropriate eye protection when performing certain activities.
Activities such as woodworking, mechanical or metal working, and manufacturing all involve a higher risk of flying objects or material coming into contact with the front of the eye.
Similarly, it is important to wear eye protection when playing sports such as basketball, football, or soccer which run the risk of having eye related injuries.
Prognosis
A corneal abrasion is usually able to be healed within a week or a few days. The corneal epithelium will heal itself within a few days without any intervention.
With proper treatment, it is likely that there will not be a scar or lasting effect.
Corneal abrasions may lead to other issues including recurrent corneal erosions or an eye infection if it is not properly managed.
Our eye doctors at GHEye excel in prescription of glasses, contact lenses and the diagnosis of a variety of eye diseases. Call our optometrists at (571) 445-3692 to schedule your appointment today, or if you think you might have a corneal abrasion and want a doctor to examine your eyes. Our eye doctors, Dr. Ally Stoeger and Dr. Jennifer Sun provide the highest quality optometry services and eye exams in the Gainesville VA and Haymarket VA areas.
A corneal abrasion is like a scratch on the front of the eye. This condition can be excruciatingly painful and may require immediate treatment to relieve the pain and promote healing.
Anatomy of the Cornea
The cornea is the clear portion of the front of the eye that helps to bend light into the eyes.
It is in front of the colored portion of the eye, the iris, and is surrounded by the white of the eye, the sclera.
The cornea does not have any blood vessels inside it which allows the cornea to remain to completely clear.
However, there are many nerves in the cornea. These nerves can perceive pain when anything contacts the front of the eye.
How a Corneal Abrasion Occurs
A corneal abrasion is basically a scratch on the front of the eye. Like a scratch on the skin, if something cuts the front epithelium of the cornea it can create an opening or abrasion.
Common things that can cause an abrasion are fingernails, animal claws, or other sharp objects.
Anything that comes into contact with the front of the eye has the possibility to cause a corneal abrasion.
Symptoms of a Scratched Cornea
If there is a corneal abrasion, the main symptom that will happen is pain. Once the abrasion occurs, there will be intense pain until the abrasion heals.
Other symptoms can include redness, watery eyes, and blurry vision.
An abrasion will not often result in intense redness but may have diffuse mild redness throughout the eye.
The watering eyes and blurry vision may be intermittent and are usually more common immediately after the abrasion occurs.
Treatments of a Corneal Abrasion
A corneal abrasion can be treated with many options including a bandage contact lens, eye drops, or with monitoring for healing.
A bandage contact lens is a contact lens that is designed to protect the cornea as it heals.
Eye drops including antibiotic eye drops can be used with or without a bandage contact lens to help prevent any additional infections.
If there is no treatment needed, the treatment may only be to monitor the abrasion with frequent eye exams until it is resolved.
Preventing a Corneal Abrasion
To prevent a corneal abrasion, it is important to always wear appropriate eye protection when performing certain activities.
Activities such as woodworking, mechanical or metal working, and manufacturing all involve a higher risk of flying objects or material coming into contact with the front of the eye.
Similarly, it is important to wear eye protection when playing sports such as basketball, football, or soccer which run the risk of having eye related injuries.
Prognosis
A corneal abrasion is usually able to be healed within a week or a few days. The corneal epithelium will heal itself within a few days without any intervention.
With proper treatment, it is likely that there will not be a scar or lasting effect.
Corneal abrasions may lead to other issues including recurrent corneal erosions or an eye infection if it is not properly managed.