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.
