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Corneal Abrasion

What is a corneal abrasion?

Be Eye Wise and know that a corneal abrasion is exactly that – a scratch on your eye’s cornea. The cornea is a clear, round dome covering your eye’s iris and pupil. Since the cornea focuses light coming into the eye, any abrasion can diminish vision and should, therefore, be addressed quickly. To learn all you can about corneal abrasion, please schedule an appointment with a Northwest Eye doctor. Because the more you know, the better you see.

Symptoms of a corneal abrasion can be:

  • Pain, which may feel worse when you open or close your eye
  • A feeling that there is something in your eye.
  • Tearing.
  • Redness.
  • Sensitivity to light.
  • Blurred vision or loss of vision.
  • Headache.

Causes of a corneal abrasion can be:

  • Foreign matter gaining access to the eye or stuck under the eyelid (dirt, sawdust, ash, etc.).
  • Accidental impact to the eye.
  • Improperly fitted or maintained contact lenses.
  • Rubbing your eyes vigorously, especially if you feel something is caught in your eye.
  • Trachoma, a bacterial eye infection.
  • Undergoing surgery under general anesthesia.

Treating a corneal abrasion:

Minor corneal abrasion will heal on its own in a few days. Sometimes, it may be necessary to use antibiotic eye drops, a prescribed ointment in your eyes or steroid eye drops to reduce inflammation and reduce the chance of scarring. Your Northwest Eye doctor will advise you on the best course of action to correct your corneal abrasion.

Corneal Ulcer

Symptoms of a corneal ulcer can be:

  • Redness of the eye.
  • Severe pain and soreness of the eye.
  • The feeling of having something in your eye.
  • Tearing.
  • Pus or other discharge.
  • Blurred vision.
  • Sensitivity to light.
  • Swelling of the eyelids.
  • A white spot on your cornea that you may or may not be able to see when looking in the mirror.

Causes of a corneal ulcer can be:

  • Bacterial infections, especially common for people who use extended wear contacts.       
  • Viral infections.
  • Fungal infections.
  • Parasitic (acanthamoeba) infections.
  • Abrasions or burns to the cornea caused by injury to the eye.
  • Dry eye.
  • Bell’s palsy and other eyelid disorders that prevent proper eyelid function.

Treating a corneal ulcer:

Antibiotics, anti-fungal, and anti-viral eye drops are all commonly used to treat corneal ulcers. Prescription injections and tablets are also possibilities. If the corneal ulcer cannot be treated with one of these methods, a surgical solution involving a corneal transplant is advised.

To learn all you can about corneal ulcers, including identification and treatment, please schedule an appointment with a Northwest Eye doctor. Because the more you know, the better you see.

locations

Serving Our Community

With six locations throughout the Twin Cities metro area, Northwest Eye is among the largest eye care providers in the Midwest. Be Eye Wise and schedule a general eye exam or a specific service consultation today. We have optical  at the following offices:  Golden Valley, Minnetonka, Maple Grove, St. Anthony, and Wayzata, MN.

8501 Golden Valley Rd.,
Suite 100 & 200
Golden Valley, MN 55427
Additional Golden Valley Information
12501 Whitewater Drive, Suite 110
Minnetonka, MN 55343
Additional Minnetonka (Crosstown) Information
12000 Elm Creek Blvd N., Suite 100
Maple Grove, MN 55369
Additional Maple Grove Information
6060 Clearwater Dr., Suite 150
Minnetonka, MN 55343

Please note:
***This office will be moving to our new Crosstown location on January 1.**
New Location:
12501 Whitewater Drive, Suite 110
Minnetonka, MN 55343
Additional Minnetonka Information
2601 39th Ave NE., Suite 1
St. Anthony, MN 55421
Additional St. Anthony Information
250 Central Ave N., Suites 105 & 107, Optical Suite 106
Wayzata, MN 55391
Additional Wayzata Information
7125 Tamarack Rd, Suite 150,
Woodbury, MN 55125
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11091 Ulysses St NE., Suite 400
Blaine, MN 55434
Additional Blaine Surgery Center Information
9801 Dupont Ave S., Suite 100
Bloomington, MN 55431
Additional Bloomington Surgery Center Information
10709 Wayzata Blvd., Suites 100 & 120
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Additional Minnetonka Surgery Center Information