Corneal Abrasion
What Is Corneal Abrasion?
Corneal abrasions are a common eye issue/injury that involves a scratch or scrape on the surface of the cornea — the outermost portion of the eye. These abrasions can happen in a number of different ways, ranging from sports injuries to the occasional accidental scratching of the eye.
Symptoms of Corneal Abrasion
Symptoms of corneal abrasions are typically mild to moderate, and can include:
- The feeling of having something stuck in the eye
- Redness
- Pain or burning on the eye
- Blurry or hazy vision
- Sensitivity to light
Causes of Corneal Abrasion
Corneal abrasions and scratches can happen in several ways, including accidents and sports injuries. A very common cause is simply rubbing your eyes too hard and scratching the cornea with your fingernail.
Corneal Abrasion Treatment Options
There are several different options for addressing corneal abrasions, all of which depend on the severity and location of the abrasion itself. Your DMEI ophthalmologist will examine your eye in order to determine the ideal approach.
Wearing an eye patch may be recommended, protecting the eye and limiting blinking that may make the abrasion worse. Moisturizing eye drops or ointments can often be used to soothe the eye and provide a protective barrier. Your ophthalmologist may also prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointment to prevent an eye infection from occurring. In some cases, a special contact lens may be utilized to minimize pain and encourage faster healing.
Healing time can vary, with smaller abrasions taking as little as a few days, and larger scrapes taking one to two weeks to fully heal.
Corneal Abrasion Treatment at Dean McGee Eye Institute
Corneal abrasions may not be as serious as other eye issues, but it’s still recommended to have a doctor examine and recommend treatment for faster healing. Early treatment can help prevent the injury from worsening and becoming an entirely different issue altogether.
If you’ve recently suffered a corneal abrasion, the doctors at the Dean McGee Eye Institute can help! Call 405.271.1095 or 800.787.9017 today to make an appointment. We’d love to provide you or your loved one with effective relief and quicker healing.
Patient Testimonials
I was sent to the Dean McGee in an emergency in Sept 2015 with corneal trauma. Every person I met was nothing but helpful and went above and beyond to make sure I was helped and the attentiveness was amazing. Dr. Rhea and her team were amazing and very friendly. I have had to continue to go with the follow up of a corneal transplant and then having to have another one on May 2017 for reason that were untreatable. Dr Rhea was very informative and always available when needed. The surgical team was also amazing. They were there for me to feel comfortable and understand what would happen during surgery. I highly recommend the Dean McGee Clinic to anyone who is having difficulties with their eyes. Thank You.