It’s no secret that your eyes are delicate organs that can become damaged due to impact or even excessive sun exposure. However, you may not realize that your eyes are also susceptible to surface injuries. Like your skin, the surface of your eyeballs can become scratched.
Corneal abrasions can be mild and hard to detect or far more serious, but all of these injuries should be assessed by an optometrist.
Who Can Suffer Corneal Abrasions?
Injuries to the surface of the eye can happen to anyone at any age. These injuries are most common for people in the following categories:
- Individuals who frequently wear contact lenses
- Individuals with chronically dry eyes
- Toddlers and young children
- Workers whose occupations exposes them to potential irritants
Corneal scratches are most likely to occur in locations or during activities where there is a high risk of foreign objects coming in contact with the eye. For example, abrasions are more likely while children play in sandboxes or while your family visits the beach.
What Causes Corneal Scratches?
An abrasion can happen from any foreign object touching the surface of the eye. Even rubbing your eye can cause scratches if you have foreign particles on your hands, eyelid, or eyeball at the time as discussed in “There’s the Rub: 5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Rub Your Eyes.”
Corneal abrasions can occur due to an accident, such as being poked in the eye, but are most likely to result from the following:
- Chemical exposure
- Debris in the eye
- Dirty or ill-fitting contacts
- Incorrect makeup or eye drops application
You can reduce your risk of corneal scratches by taking the following measures:
- If you feel dust or grime in your eyes, rinse instead of rubbing.
- Keep your contacts well maintained and wear them properly.
- Wear eye protection when in high-risk situations.
Additionally, you should seek treatment when you experience the symptoms of corneal abrasion.
What Are the Signs of Corneal Abrasion?
Due to natural colors and textures of the eyeball, scratches may not be visible to you or to anyone else who doesn’t have the proper equipment.
You should make an appointment with an optometrist if you notice any combination of the following symptoms:
- A gritty feeling that persists after rinsing the affected eye
- Constant pain or an ache similar to having an aggravating object in the eye
- Fuzzy vision
- Redness of the eye
- Sensitivity to light and headache
- Swelling and/or tenderness around the eye in question
- Watery eyes or excessive tear production
An eye doctor can identify the abrasion or abrasions during a close examination. In some cases, the optometrist may put a solution called fluorescein onto the eye. Under a specialized light, the fluorescein makes any scratches glow.
How are Corneal Abrasions Treated?
Your eye doctor will evaluate the depth and extent of the injuries to determine the best treatment.
Minor Injuries
When the scratch is small and shallow, your eye should heal mostly on its own. Superficial abrasions can close in as little as two days.
If you are prone to eye infections or have multiple abrasions, your eye doctor may prescribe antibiotic or lubricating eye drops to encourage natural healing.
During the healing period, your optometrist may recommend wearing sunglasses when in direct light and rinsing with a saline solution designed for eye health if you experience more discomfort.
Serious Abrasions
Deeper corneal scratches can lead to lingering discomfort or even permanent vision changes during to scarification of the wound. Cuts from fingernails and other hard-edged objects are more likely to result in serious abrasions.
Your eye doctor may fill in the deepest scratches with a topical solution to help them close more quickly. Then, he or she may apply an antibiotic ointment designed to stay on the surface of the eye over time.
You will likely be prescribed an eye drops regimen to aid in the healing process. Additionally, your optometrist may recommend covering the eye with a medical patch during the first stage of healing. Generally, the patch only needs to be worn for two to four days but you will probably need to wear eye protection when outdoors for a month or so after the injury.
While a corneal scratch is healing, do not wear your usual contact lenses. Your doctor may have you wear bandage lenses instead. These contacts cover the injury and help keep the area lubricated to expedite healing.
Even if your injuries are minor, your doctor will likely set up a secondary appointment one to two days after your initial exam to evaluate how well your eye is responding to treatment.
If you suspect a corneal abrasion, seek treatment as soon as possible to reduce the risk of long-term or permanent damage to the eye.
Are you or a child in your care experiencing symptoms associated with corneal abrasions? Make an appointment at the All About Eyes location nearest you as soon as possible for assessment.