Corneal Abrasions

Corneal abrasions are common eye injuries and extremely easy to get, but they usually heal quickly with the proper assessment and treatment plan.  An abrasion can happen instantly and is typically treated with an antibiotic ointment or eye drop to help prevent infection.  Untreated corneal abrasions can also affect vision and is considered an open wound.

A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the front of the eye (the cornea).  Pets, paper, makeup brushes, blowing sand or dust, or simply a finger can cause a scratch on this extremely sensitive area.  Pain and irritation can begin without any traumatic events leading up to it.

Most importantly, if you believe you have a foreign body in your eye, do not rub your eyes!  Rubbing is instinct but only causes more damage to the surface of the eye.  Flushing the eye with sterile saline or multipurpose contact solution is the best course of action if something is trapped there.  Plain tap water is a choice if these are not available, but much healthier than rubbing the eye.

If the object will not wash out in a short number of hours, you should call Anna Eyecare immediately for emergent evaluation.  In the office, a numbing drop can be administered to deliver pain relief, and a special light will be used to determine the amount of damage and remove the foreign body.