All About Corneal Abrasions

A corneal abrasion can be caused when a foreign object hits the eye such as when hiking and the person in front of you lets go of a tree branch which hits you in the eye.

It can also be caused when you get something in your eye such as when the wind is blowing and a particle from a dried leaf gets into your eye. This might scratch the eyes cornea.

A foreign body may lodge under the upper eye lid and scratch the surface of the cornea each time you blink.

Rubbing your eye excessively when they are irritated can also cause a corneal abrasion.

Wearing contact lenses longer than you should at one time can also case injury to the corneal surface.

Exposure of the unprotected eye to ultraviolet

If you experience any of the following symptoms you should see your ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

If you have pain in the eye whether or not it is associated with an eye injury.

If you have a sudden loss of vision or a sudden unexplained blurring.

 If you have a constant feeling that there is something in the eye but you are unable to get the material out.

You have severe eye pain when exposed to sunlight or bright indoor lights.

If your eyes have a great deal of redness.

Try to wash out the eye with clear water if a piece of dust should get into it.

Rinse the eye out by tilting the head back and allowing water to flow into the opened eye.

Fill a sink or a bathtub with water and immerse your head into the water with the eye open to remove particles.

Try Tylenol medication to help with pain, however if the pain should persist longer than a day you need to contact your eye doctor.

You should plan on resting after your eye examination. Rest with your eyes closed and do not read during this time. Refrain from driving until the doctor says it is safe.

The physician might prescribe an antibiotic eye drop or an ointment to place in the eye or eyes. To reduce any inflammation, the doctor might prescribe eye drops that are a steroid form to help avoid possible scarring.

There are also eye drops some doctors use to help stop any muscle spasms of the eye. These can also help relieve sensitivity to light but may cause a slight blurring of vision.

It will be up to your physicians determination whether or not to place a patch over the affected eye.

It might be advisable to have a tetanus shot if there is any evidence of rusty metallic deposits within the cornea.

Your doctor might prescribe a prescription for a pain medication to be taken orally.

It might help to relieve the pain if you wear sunglasses during the healing process.

Your doctor may ask that you return for a follow-up appointment if you have a simple corneal abrasion in 24-48 hours.

Should you experience any serious or complicated issues, you will need to contact your doctor right away.