Overview
- Cornea is outer layer of the eye
- Tearing away of this layer leads to corneal abrasion.
- Most common injury to the eye
- Multiple nerve endings present in cornea, hence painful
Causes
May be caused by
- A finger nail
- Any sharp flying object like pencil, glass
- Tiny particles, like sand
- Contact lens
Symptoms
- Pain
- Redness of the eye
- Blurred vision
- Discomfort in the eye
- Difficulty in opening eyes
- Head ache
- Discharge of tears
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Treatment
- Antibiotic used to prevent infection
- Examination is done after using an anaesthetic
- Pain returns after anaesthetic is stopped
- Repeated usage of anaesthetic is harmful
- Eye ointments, pain relievers are provided
- A ‘patch’ may be put on the eyes
- Eye ointments/ lubricants at night prevents recurrence
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Do Not
- Do not rub eyes during healing phase
- This may destroy the newly forming cells
- Repatching may then be necessary
- Do not wear contact lens till cured
Prognosis
- Small corneal abrasions heal quickly
- Blurriness may last for a few weeks
- Permanent loss of sight is rare
- Occasionally abrasions may recur
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Prevention
- Always follow instructions while using contact lens
- Do not wear contact lens for too long
- Remove lens if irritation /dryness occurs
- Do not rub eyes too hard
- Wash hands whenever required
- Trim your nails regularly
- Be careful while using ‘glitter’ make up
- Wear protective gears while sporting
