Corneal Abrasions

A corneal abrasion is simply a scratch in
the outer layer of the cornea

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.

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:

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.