The epithelium is the outermost layer of the cornea and is similar to skin. Minor corneal abrasions—which comprise the majority of cases—only affect these two layers and are expected to heal on their own within one to three days without any additional effects.
If you experience a lot of pain in your eyes, the corneal abrasion may have penetrated several layers. Deeper abrasions require treatment because they can cause permanent corneal scars, whitish areas in your cornea that may affect your vision.
More serious corneal abrasions will take a longer time to heal and may need additional treatment. To check for eye scratches and any foreign particles, the optician at your local eye clinic will examine your eyes with a light. If there are any abrasions, the areas with the dye will look greenish when exposed to special blue light.
No further tests are needed for minor corneal abrasions. To reduce inflammation and prevent scarring, your optician may prescribe antibiotics or steroid eye drops. To treat eye pain, your optician may prescribe nonprescription pain relievers. They might also prescribe cycloplegic drugs—which temporarily reduce the activity of the muscles controlling the size of your pupil—to reduce sensitivity to light.
Corneal abrasions are the most common eye injury in children in the country. If you wear contact lenses, a scratched cornea can quickly progress to corneal scarring or perforation if not adequately treated. A scratched cornea often feels as if there were something in the eye.
Emergency evaluation and treatment is necessary if you are suffering from a penetrating foreign body and are experiencing a noticeable loss of vision.
For any eye injury, your eye doctor will perform a complete eye examination, during which he or she will:. A corneal abrasion examination will also enable your doctor to determine whether another condition may be causing the symptoms, and whether that condition might affect treatment and healing of the injured eye.
The differential diagnosis of corneal abrasion includes the following: corneal ulcer, retained corneal foreign body, conjunctivitis, acute angle-closure glaucoma, dry eye syndrome, recurrent erosion syndrome, uveitis, and fungal or bacterial eye infection keratitis.
A scratched cornea should be treated like any eye injury. Follow first aid guidelines for an eye emergency and see your doctor if an object is stuck in your eye. Do not try removing it yourself.
Any foreign material should be removed by a medical professional as soon as possible. This helps prevent infection. Sometimes a surgical procedure is needed to remove the foreign body, which is another reason why it is important to seek medical help immediately.
For a chemical eye injury, thoroughly flush the eye with water for at least 30 minutes and then go to the nearest emergency medical facility. Your doctor will consider many factors when determining what treatment you need. Treatment depends on the severity of the injury. Read More. Knee Bracing: What Works? Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke.
Caring for Your Incision After Surgery. Sore Muscles from Exercise. Ankle Sprains. Poison Ivy. Post-traumatic Stress After a Traffic Accident. Home Diseases and Conditions Corneal Abrasions. Table of Contents. What is a corneal abrasion? Symptoms of corneal abrasions The cornea is very sensitive, so a corneal abrasion is usually quite painful.
What can cause a corneal abrasion? How are corneal abrasions diagnosed? Can corneal abrasions be prevented or avoided? Keep your fingernails trimmed short.
Trim low-hanging tree branches. Use care when putting in contact lenses. Make sure you clean them properly each day.
Avoid rubbing your eyes. What do I do if I get something in my eye? Corneal abrasion treatment Your doctor will probably treat the abrasion with eye drops or ointment.
0コメント