Corneal abrasion is when the cornea, the clear area in the center of the front of your eye through which you see, becomes irritated or injured. A contact lens, tree branch, or scratch by a fingernail can damage the cornea. Buffalo Grove corneal abrasion may be painful. You may not feel symptoms of corneal abrasion right away, so you may be unable to figure out what caused it. Corneal abrasions range from mild to severe. Mild scratches often resolve independently within one to three days. Deep bruises take longer to heal and can lead to infections or scars.
What causes a corneal abrasion?
A corneal abrasion can result from a scratch when you poke your eye with your fingernail, pen, or makeup brush. Rubbing your eyes too hard, certain types of eye infections, wearing poor-fitting or dirty contact lenses, or overwearing contact lenses can cause a corneal abrasion. Also, you can have corneal abrasion when dirt, sand, sawdust, ash, chemicals, and other foreign materials get into your eyes net worth.
What are the symptoms of a corneal abrasion?
Corneal abrasion can be characterized by pain, especially when you open or close your eyes, tearing and redness, blurred vision, and eyes becoming sensitive to light. You may also feel like you have sand or grit in the affected eye.
What are the treatments for corneal abrasion?
Your doctor can prescribe lasenorita antibiotic eye drops or ointments to prevent the affected eye from infection. Pain relievers can help alleviate corneal abrasion pain, and medicated eye drops can help ease pain and redness. If the affected eye is sensitive to light, your doctor can recommend tape to shut your eye or have you wear a patch. Ensure you do not rub your eyes or wear contacts until your doctor says it is safe while your eye heals. You can wear sunglasses to ease the discomfort caused by sunlight.
Mild corneal abrasion usually resolves quickly without permanent eye damage. Deep scratches can lead to infections, scars, and other issues. You may have long-term eye damage if you do not take care of them. If you experience unusual symptoms after treatment, including pain, consult your doctor.
Some patients experience eye irritation even after the corneal abrasion heals. This feeling may indicate a problem with the corneal epithelium, the thin layer of cells on the surface of your cornea. The cells are essential during abrasion healing; if they do not grow back to protect the corneal surface, you will experience irritation. Eye drops can help in such cases, and surgery may be essential if the issue recurs.
How can you prevent a corneal abrasion?
Some cases of corneal abrasion are preventable. You often rub your eye when you feel like something is in it, which may lead to a scratch. Instead, you should blink your eye several times, pull the upper eyelid over the lower one and gently rinse your eye with clean water or a sterile saline solution. If something gets stuck in your cornea, seek medical care.
Corneal abrasion is the irritation of the eye cornea. Pain relievers and eye drops can help alleviate corneal abrasion symptoms. Schedule an appointment at Eye Q Optique for corneal abrasion damage to relieve your eye pain and irritation.