Corneal Abrasion

Corneal Abrasion A large part of your eyeball is covered in a socket of bone known as the orbital bone, which provides protection to the inner part of your eye. Unfortunately, it cannot protect the outer part of your eye that faces out. This protruding part has a layer of clear tissue called the cornea, which helps your eye to focus and protects other parts of your eye, such as the pupil and the iris.

Sometimes, you will have a scrape or scratch on the cornea due to any reason. This condition is known as corneal abrasion and can affect your eyesight if the scar is deep. The condition is quite common in kids, and usually heals on its own. It's still important to know what to do and exactly when to see your doctor to prevent corneal damage.

What Causes Corneal Abrasion?
Minor injuries may happen at any time, but still, scratches on the cornea will cause serious pain. That's mainly due to high sensitivity of the cornea. This will lead to watery eyes and you will have trouble opening it at first. Many things can lead to corneal abrasion. For instance:

Small Particles in the Eye
The orbital bone protects most of your eye, and the eyelashes and eyelids also help maintain the defense system. If something enters your eye, it could damage the cornea. It could be anything, including sand, dust, hay, bugs, wood shavings, pieces of papers or anything else.

The moment a particle enters your eye and lands on your cornea, your eye will release tears to wash it away. Sometimes, a foreign particle doesn't go away, and even if it does, it leaves a cut or scratch on the surface of your cornea, leading to corneal abrasion. Improper use of lenses, chemical irritants, and bright lights can also create issues.

Chemical Injuries
People who work with chemicals often end up hurting their cornea. The improper use of household cleaning products like bleach and oven cleaner may also cause a burn to your cornea. The scratched corneamay also be the outcome of alkaline substances such as plaster dust.

Risk Factors
You are more likely to experience a corneal injury if you:

• Are overly exposed to artificial UV light or sunlight for extended hours


• Have overused your contact lenses and they don't fit well


• Have dry eyes


• Work in a dirty or dusty environment

If your work involves hammering metal on metal, you may fail to prevent high-speed particles from entering your eye and damaging your cornea.

What Symptoms Will Corneal Abrasion Have?
Corneal abrasion will affect the functionality of the cornea, so you will notice issues with your vision. Things will become rather blurry and you will find it difficult to focus. A stinging or burning pain is also common in corneal abrasion.

Other symptoms include the following:

• Sensitivity to light


• Bloodshot or red eyes


• Swelling on eyelids


• Increased tears with watery eyes


• Foreign-body sensation

What to Do If You Have Corneal Abrasion?
Here's what you can do if you have corneal abrasion:

• Rinse your eye well with a saline solution. For this purpose, you can use a clean drinking glass or an eyecup. You may also consider going to a work site eye-rinse station.


• Keep blinking to produce more water and help wash away the foreign particle.


• Try to pull your upper eyelid over your lower eyelid to help wash out the particle. The lashes of your lower eyelid may also help brush away the object that's under your upper eyelid.

Knowing what to do when you have corneal abrasion is important, but it is also important to learn what will make your injury worse. For instance:

• You should avoid doing anything if the particle seems embedded in your eyeball.


• Avoid rubbing your eye after a corneal injury.


• Avoid using tweezers, cotton swabs or other instruments to remove a particle.


• Avoid wearing contact lenses while you're dealing with an injury.

When to Seek Medical Help
Most corneal injuries will heal in a couple of days, but you may have to consult your doctor if pain or swelling doesn't go away in a few days. You should also go see your doctor if you feel something 'invisible' is in your eye. It is important to ask your doctor to examine your cornea if you can see a small particle or a splinter in your eye. A visit to an eye specialist becomes necessary when your eye becomes extremely sensitive to bright light.

How to Prevent Corneal Abrasion
To avoid dealing with pain and swelling, it is better to take some steps and avoid getting a corneal injury in the first place.

• Always wear safety gear, such as safety goggles when using power tools or handling chemicals.


• Always wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from ultraviolet light.


• Always practice care when working with household cleaners, such as oven and drain cleaners.


• Always keep your fingernails trimmed and do the same for your kids to avoid an eye injury.


• Always pay attention to trimming low-hanging tree branches to avoid accidents.


• Always practice care when inserting contact lenses in your eyes. Clean them properly before use.


• Never sleep while wearing your contact lenses.

Corneal Abrasion

Corneal Abrasion

A large part of your eyeball is covered in a socket of bone known as the orbital bone, which provides protection to the inner part of your eye. Unfortunately, it cannot protect the outer part of your eye that faces out. This protruding part has a layer of clear tissue called the cornea, which helps your eye to focus and protects other parts of your eye, such as the pupil and the iris.

Sometimes, you will have a scrape or scratch on the cornea due to any reason. This condition is known as corneal abrasion and can affect your eyesight if the scar is deep. The condition is quite common in kids, and usually heals on its own. It's still important to know what to do and exactly when to see your doctor to prevent corneal damage.

What Causes Corneal Abrasion?
Minor injuries may happen at any time, but still, scratches on the cornea will cause serious pain. That's mainly due to high sensitivity of the cornea. This will lead to watery eyes and you will have trouble opening it at first. Many things can lead to corneal abrasion. For instance:

Small Particles in the Eye
The orbital bone protects most of your eye, and the eyelashes and eyelids also help maintain the defense system. If something enters your eye, it could damage the cornea. It could be anything, including sand, dust, hay, bugs, wood shavings, pieces of papers or anything else.

The moment a particle enters your eye and lands on your cornea, your eye will release tears to wash it away. Sometimes, a foreign particle doesn't go away, and even if it does, it leaves a cut or scratch on the surface of your cornea, leading to corneal abrasion. Improper use of lenses, chemical irritants, and bright lights can also create issues.

Chemical Injuries
People who work with chemicals often end up hurting their cornea. The improper use of household cleaning products like bleach and oven cleaner may also cause a burn to your cornea. The scratched corneamay also be the outcome of alkaline substances such as plaster dust.

Risk Factors
You are more likely to experience a corneal injury if you:

• Are overly exposed to artificial UV light or sunlight for extended hours


• Have overused your contact lenses and they don't fit well


• Have dry eyes


• Work in a dirty or dusty environment

If your work involves hammering metal on metal, you may fail to prevent high-speed particles from entering your eye and damaging your cornea.

What Symptoms Will Corneal Abrasion Have?
Corneal abrasion will affect the functionality of the cornea, so you will notice issues with your vision. Things will become rather blurry and you will find it difficult to focus. A stinging or burning pain is also common in corneal abrasion.

Other symptoms include the following:

• Sensitivity to light


• Bloodshot or red eyes


• Swelling on eyelids


• Increased tears with watery eyes


• Foreign-body sensation

What to Do If You Have Corneal Abrasion?
Here's what you can do if you have corneal abrasion:

• Rinse your eye well with a saline solution. For this purpose, you can use a clean drinking glass or an eyecup. You may also consider going to a work site eye-rinse station.


• Keep blinking to produce more water and help wash away the foreign particle.


• Try to pull your upper eyelid over your lower eyelid to help wash out the particle. The lashes of your lower eyelid may also help brush away the object that's under your upper eyelid.

Knowing what to do when you have corneal abrasion is important, but it is also important to learn what will make your injury worse. For instance:

• You should avoid doing anything if the particle seems embedded in your eyeball.


• Avoid rubbing your eye after a corneal injury.


• Avoid using tweezers, cotton swabs or other instruments to remove a particle.


• Avoid wearing contact lenses while you're dealing with an injury.

When to Seek Medical Help
Most corneal injuries will heal in a couple of days, but you may have to consult your doctor if pain or swelling doesn't go away in a few days. You should also go see your doctor if you feel something 'invisible' is in your eye. It is important to ask your doctor to examine your cornea if you can see a small particle or a splinter in your eye. A visit to an eye specialist becomes necessary when your eye becomes extremely sensitive to bright light.

How to Prevent Corneal Abrasion
To avoid dealing with pain and swelling, it is better to take some steps and avoid getting a corneal injury in the first place.

• Always wear safety gear, such as safety goggles when using power tools or handling chemicals.


• Always wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from ultraviolet light.


• Always practice care when working with household cleaners, such as oven and drain cleaners.


• Always keep your fingernails trimmed and do the same for your kids to avoid an eye injury.


• Always pay attention to trimming low-hanging tree branches to avoid accidents.


• Always practice care when inserting contact lenses in your eyes. Clean them properly before use.


• Never sleep while wearing your contact lenses.

Corneal Abrasion

Corneal Abrasion






The term abrasion means scratch and corneal abrasion is the presence of any scratches on the cornea. The cornea is the protective layer of tissue over iris and pupil of the eye. When any dirt falls into the eye it affects the cornea causing mild scratches called as corneal abrasion. It will cause discomfort, irritation and pain. Always remember to wash your eyes with clear cool water when something falls into it and do not rub your eyes which will worsen the condition. Since the cornea has multiple nerve endings below its surface any scratches on the cornea will be more painful.

Causes :

You can get something poked into the eyes like fingernail or edges of plant or even your eyeliner or brush. Dirt, debris, ash or sand can enter into your eyes and get blocked. Any insect can sting the eyelids causing scratches on the cornea. Constant rubbing of your eyes, wearing poor fitting lenses, eye infections and eye injury can damage the cornea.

A piece of sawdust or sand can find its way into the eyes affecting the upper eyelids causing scratches and pain. In some cases, a tiny metal fragment can fly into your eye if you are not using protective covering on your eyes.

Symptoms :

The first symptom during corneal abrasion is the gritting sensation due to presence of foreign particle. There will be pain, irritation and watery eyes. Except for chemical injury corneal abrasions are seen only in one eye. Your vision will become blurred or distorted for some time. There can be eye pain and difficulty in opening the eyes. Eye inflammation or swelling of eyelids caused by spasm of the eye muscles that surrounds the cornea is present. The infected eye becomes sensitive to light and there will be excess of tears.

Diagnoses :

A diagnosis is pretty simple and straightforward. Your ophthalmologist will observe your eyes through microscope for detecting eye infection or injury. He would apply eye drops on the affected eye for dilating it so that it becomes clear during examination.

Treatment :

When you sense any foreign particle on your eyes do not rub your eyes instead blink it several times. Gently pull the upper eyelid on the lower eyelid. Wash your eyes with cool water or saline solution. You can dip your eyes into a sink filled with cool water keeping it wide open. This will facilitate the movement of dust or any foreign substance to the corner of the eyes that can be removed safely.

Special rinsing solutions are available in the laboratory for washing the eyes. You can use it for cleaning the dirt from the eyes. Some people will push the particle deep into the eyes in the attempt of removing it. It is better to visit your eye doctor immediately. He will gently remove the particle using special instrument without causing any strain to the cornea.

Antibiotic eye-drops or steroids are used for reducing inflammation and for treating scratches. You will get relief from pain and sensitivity after applying eye drops. After removal of debris from the eyes you should keep it closed for some time for healing.

In case of metallic deposits inside the eyes, your doctor will suggest Tetanus vaccination after removing the same. If you have severe pain you will be prescribed pain relievers like ibuprofen. Follow the instructions of your eye doctor and wear sunglasses for added protection.

Some doctors would patch the eye depending on the situation. Minor scratches will heal easily and only on severe abrasion it will take long time for complete healing.

In rare cases, deep scratches can cause cornea erosion and scarring, which can cause partial loss of vision.

Prevention :

You can prevent corneal abrasion by taking protective measures. Always wear sunglasses or eyewear while taking part in sports activities and hiking. You can prevent windblown particles entering into the eyes by using protective eyewear.

Do not expose your eyes to bright sunlight for long time and wear protective glasses while taking part in skiing activities. Some time the reflection of sunlight on the snow or water will cause double exposure tearing the cornea muscles while indulging in skiing.

Corneal Abrasion – Symptoms, Diagnosis , Treatment

Corneal Abrasion – Symptoms, Diagnosis , Treatment

What is a Corneal Abrasion?

This is a scrape or scratch of the surface of the clear part of the eye – and it is very painful. The clear area of the eye is the cornea. This clear or transparent window covers the iris, which is the colored circular part of the eye. This cornea has many endings of the nerves beneath the surface, so that any interference of this surface is very painful.

Corneal Abrasion Symptoms

An individual should be suspicious of having a corneal abrasion if they have had any injury to the eye. Some symptoms that can be experienced are:

• A feeling that there is something in the eye – this feeling often starts a few hours after any injury instead of immediately.


• Eyes watery


• Distortion or blurred vision


• When exposed to any bright light – severe eye pain


• Muscle spasms surrounding the eye – causing individual to squint

An individual should see an ophthalmologist – eye specialist – if any of the following are experienced:

• Eye pain – with or without any associated injury to the eye


• Sudden loss of vision or a sudden substantial blurring of vision


• Eye injury from high-speed equipment, such as a grinding wheel, hammering upon metal or from carpentry sanding – any of these can cause a tiny fragment to get in the eye


• Have a sensation that something is in your eye


• Exposure to sunlight or indoor bright lights cause eye pain which is severe


• Redness of the eye


• Experience of minor eye symptoms in the presence of an eye condition which is known or in the presence of having sight in only one eye


• Pain lasts more than a few hours or is very severe.


• Wearing of contact lens longer than normal


• Chemical or heat burn to the eye


• Returning pain of an eye injury that had seemed to have resolved with treatment

Go to the hospital’s emergency room if experiencing any of the above as well as unable to be seen by an ophthalmologist.
Some steps that can be taken immediately for an abrasion to the corneal are to:

You're reading Corneal Abrasion – Symptoms, Diagnosis , Treatment posted by minhhai2d, the information is for reference only.

• Wash your eye with water which is clean such as saline solution. Use a small, clean drinking glass or eyecup positioned with the rim relaxing on the bone located at the bottom of the eye socket.


• Blink a number of times. This is the movement that can get rid of small specks of sand or dust.


• Take the upper eyelid and pull it over the lower one. These lashes of the lower lid may brush any foreign body from the surface under the upper eyelid.

Corneal Abrasion Diagnosis

The following will be done to diagnose if you have an abrasion of the corneal:

• The individual will need to inform the physician of any previous problems with the eye, especially injuries, or eye disease such as Glaucoma. This is because certain eyedrops can cause conditions to get worse.


• Also tell the physician if you have any allergies.


• The physician will more than likely put a numbing eye drop into your eye which will take away the pain and allow you to keep the eye open for an exam.


• The physician will then put a yellow-colored eye drop into the eye and then examine the eye with a blue light. This eye drop contains a dye called fluorescein which causes any corneal abrasion to be easier to see during the examination.

Corneal Abrasion Treatment

The physician will treat the eye based on the diagnosis made.

• An antibiotic ointment or eyedrops can be placed or prescribed for your eye. Many physicians may also use steroid eyedrops in order to diminish any inflammation as well as to evade likely scarring.


• Drops to stop the spasm in the eye muscle can possibly be placed into the eye by the physician. These drops can relieve the pain and any sensitivity to light however may cause the vision to blur.


• The eye may or possibly not be patched by the physician. Recent reports show that patching of the eye really doesn’t help and can actually have an impact that is negative on the progress of healing.


• If it were rusty or metallic bits that caused the injury to the cornea, the physician may also advise a Tetanus shot especially if your vaccination is not current.


• Eyedrops for eye pain will not be prescribed for use at home as they normally can interfere with the natural healing process.


• Oral medication for pain can be prescribed


• Sunglasses can help relieve any pain

Corneal abrasions normally heal totally within 24-48 hours of the injury. There are some cases that can heal poorly and then recur without having any additional trauma.

Other reasons for eye pain and injuries can take longer to heal or may need more extensive treatment by an ophthalmologist