A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the cornea. The cornea is the clear, front surface of the eye. It is located directly in front of the iris, the colored part of the eye. The cornea has several layers that protect the eye. Some corneal abrasions may form a scar and permanently impair vision.
Most corneal abrasions happen as a result of:
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. Risk factors for a corneal abrasion include:
Symptoms may include:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and perform an eye exam. The doctor will look for any foreign objects in the eye and may place drops in your eye to make you more comfortable and to aid in seeing the scratch under a special light. You will usually be referred to an eye specialist.
Minor scratches usually heal within 1-2 days. Your eye may be patched for improved comfort. In some cases, your eye doctor will place a contact lens in the eye to help relieve the discomfort and improve healing. The doctor will likely ask you to come back often to make sure the abrasion is healing.
Treatment may include:
The doctor will remove the foreign object by flushing the eye with saline or by using a cotton swab, needle, or other tool. You may have to wear a patch over the eye; however, a 2006 meta-analysis (ie, analysis of a group of studies on the same topic) found that eye-patching did not decrease pain and may actually slow healing. * But most eye specialists feel that when done properly, a pressure patch on the eye, which prevents blinking, does in fact increase comfort and speed healing.
Medications may include:
Always go to an eye doctor immediately if your eye is bothering you. Besides treatment prescribed by your eye doctor, self-care may include:
If you are diagnosed with a corneal abrasion, follow your doctor's instructions .
Prevention aims to avoid injury to the cornea or provide early treatment should an injury occur. If something scratches or penetrates one of your eyes, seek medical attention immediately.
To avoid injuring the cornea:
If something gets in your eye:
If an object strikes your eye at a fast pace, it can be a medical emergency and you should seek medical attention immediately. Furthermore, if a chemical splashes into your eyes, flush your eyes immediately and call 911.
Special Tip : If you do have eye pain or a foreign object, consider seeing an eye specialist immediately rather than going to the emergency room as many emergency rooms will need to refer you to an eye specialist anyway. However, if you have a severe injury or chemical splash, call 911 or go immediately to the nearest emergency room.
RESOURCES:
American Academy of Ophthalmology
http://www.aao.org
American Optometric Association
http://www.aoanet.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Association of Optometrists
http://www.opto.ca/en/public/
Canadian Health Network
http://www.canadian-health-network.ca/
References:
Anesthesia . 5th ed. Churchill Livingstone, Inc; 2000.
Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice . 4th ed. Mosby-Year Book, Inc; 1998.
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine . 14th ed. The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2000.
Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics . 16th ed. WB Saunders Company; 2000.
Primary Care Medicine . 4th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000.
Procedures for Primary Care Physicians . Mosby-Year Book, Inc; 1994.
*Updated section on Removing a Foreign Object on 6/20/06 according to the following study, as cited by DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Turner A, Rabiu M. Patching for corneal abrasion. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews . 2006;(2). No: CD004764. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004764.pub2.
Last reviewed November 2008 by Christopher Cheyer, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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