A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the cornea of the eye that can cause discomfort and requires medical attention. It can be caused by foreign objects, hazardous solvents, or even scratching the eye with a fingernail. Symptoms include eye pain, redness, sensitivity to light, and a feeling that something is in the eye. Treatment may involve antibiotic or steroid drops, wearing sunglasses, or an eye patch. Severe cases may require additional treatment.
A corneal abrasion can be a very annoying scratch that occurs on the cornea of the eye. This can happen under a variety of circumstances and is most often a treatable condition, although in the short term it can also cause tremendous discomfort due to the many nerve endings in this part of the eye. It’s usually a condition that needs a diagnosis from an ophthalmologist or emergency room doctor, because it’s hard to tell how bad the scratch is, or if one exists. Also, some causes of corneal abrasion are not as benign and could cause further eye injury that needs to be addressed.
There are numerous ways to get a corneal abrasion. One of the simplest is to get something in the eye like a particle of sand, dust, a leaf, or even the ability to stick your finger into the eye where the nail scratches the cornea. Some exposure to hazardous solvents also causes scratches to the cornea, and if these are known eye irritants or poisons it becomes even more important to seek immediate medical attention for treatment. Whenever something from the eye may need to be removed, such as glass or traces of a solvent, it is essential to involve a doctor in the process.
While some people may know they’ve gotten something into their eye, other people haven’t and may suddenly experience symptoms of a corneal abrasion. Whether or not the injury is known, there are a number of potential symptoms. These include significant eye pain, watery eyes and redness in the affected eye, increased sensitivity to light, a persistent feeling that something is in the eye, and potentially increased activation or contraction of the muscles around the eye. Vision can also be affected and because of this, people should make sure that someone else steers them to the doctor or emergency room.
When a doctor examines for this injury, the eye will be paralyzed briefly. An examination looks for traces of scratches and traces of material left in the eye. If there is still matter making the scratch, it could be removed in a number of ways.
Many people have nothing left in their eye, and provided a scratch is minor, treatment can be fairly minimal. It might involve using antibiotic or steroid drops for a few days to speed healing. Some people find wearing an eye patch for a day helpful, although there is debate as to the effectiveness of this treatment. Less objectionable is the recommendation to wear sunglasses for a few days, which can help minimize sensitive reactions to bright light.
With a minor scratch, people are normally sent home with eye drops and tend to recover within a couple of days. If the corneal abrasion is more severe, doctors may want to recheck the area a few days after an initial exam. In rare cases, a scratch may require additional treatment if it doesn’t heal quickly.
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