The cornea is the clear, round dome covering the eye’s iris and pupil.  It helps by focusing the light as it enters the eye and it helps to protect the iris and pupil from damage.  A corneal abrasion is a scratched or scraped cornea that can affect vision. It is one of the most common eye injuries and typically causes the eye to become red, irritated, and hypersensitive to light.  

Causes of Corneal Abrasions:

  • Improperly fitting contact lenses
  • Vigorously rubbing your eye in an attempt to remove something caught in your eye
  • Being poked in the eye
  • Dust, sand, or dirt getting stuck under your eyelid
  • Being hit in the eye
  • Plant matter, ash, or sawdust being blown into the eye
  • Sports or work injuries
  • Bacterial infections such as trachoma

Often times you may not be aware that you have a corneal abrasion because the symptoms may not appear until hours later.

Symptoms of Corneal Abrasions:

  • Swollen eyes
  • Red, irritated eyes
  • Watery or teary eyes
  • Foreign body sensation (feeling like something is inside your eye)
  • Hypersensitivity to light
  • Pain, that worsens when you open or close your eye
  • Blurred vision or loss of vision
  • Headache

If you believe something is in your eye, you may try to flush it out with water.  However, it is important not to rub your eye, as this will only worsen the abrasion.

In the event of a corneal abrasion, you should seek care from your ophthalmologist who will perform a thorough eye examination to determine the severity of your situation.  Numbing drops may be used so that your eye will stay open during the examination. And in some cases, a fluorescein eye stain may be performed to detect damage to the cornea.

Avoiding Corneal Abrasions:

  • Remove your contact lenses at night
  • Be careful when removing your contacts to avoid scratching your cornea with your fingernails
  • Wearing protective eye-wear when performing activities that may put your eyes at risk, such as during sports or when working with tools, chemicals, etc.
  • Use caution when playing with pets, especially cats and dogs that could potentially scratch you in the eye
  • Be careful when holding small children – they may accidentally poke you in the eye.
    Wear sunglasses on sunny days to block out ultraviolet rays

Most minor corneal abrasions will heal on their own within a few days.  You may be given antibiotic eye drops or ointment to reduce the possibility of scarring or inflammation.  And in some cases, wearing an eye patch may be recommended for comfort. Sunglasses may help lessen the symptoms associated with hypersensitivity to light, and you should avoid wearing contact lenses until your eye doctor gives the green-light to do so.