What is Corneal Abrasion?
A corneal abrasion is a scratch or injury to the surface of your cornea, which is the transparent covering on the front of your eye. Contact with dust, dirt, sand, wood shavings, plant matter, metal particles, contact lenses, or even the edge of a piece of paper can scrape the cornea.
They are common and are usually caused by mechanical stress from external things like fingernails and branches, foreign bodies that become stuck beneath the eyelids, or contact lens use. Patients who have had a previous injury and structural flaws in the corneal epithelium are at risk for recurrent erosions, which are spontaneous abrasions.
Also, read Complete Guide on Pink Eye: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Causes
A Corneal Abrasion, commonly known as a scratch on the cornea, can be painful and affect your vision. As a result, learning how to treat Corneal abrasions first aid is critical. You can scratch your cornea by getting something in your eye while working with tools or equipment. The following items can go into your eye and scratch it:
- Dust, dirt, sand, or plant fragments.
- Small pieces of wood or metal.
- Make-up brushes or applicators.
- Your fingernails.
A corneal abrasion can also be caused by contact lenses if you:
- Put on your contact lenses. when your eyes are dry.
- Have contact lenses that don’t fit properly.
- Use excessive force when removing or inserting your contacts.
Symptoms
Corneal abrasion symptoms include:
- Pain
- Blurry vision
- A grainy sensation in the eye
- Tearing
- Redness
- Sensitivity to the light (photophobia)
- Headache
Risk Factors
The following are risk factors for corneal abrasions:
- Working near eye risks such as grinding machines or sawmills.
- Landscaping without protective eyewear.
- Participating in sports that could result in eye damage.
- Contact lenses are being worn.
- Having dry eyes.
- Rubbing your eyes hard or a lot.
Diagnosis
Corneal abrasions are normally diagnosed with a medical history review and a thorough eye examination.
The doctor may inquire about your symptoms, such as eye pain or a sense of a foreign body, as well as any recent activities or situations that may have resulted in the abrasion. The doctor will use a slit lamp microscope to closely inspect the cornea for any symptoms of injury, such as redness, edema, or a loss of the clear outer layer, during the eye examination. In addition, the doctor may employ specific dyes or tonometry to assess the amount of the abrasion.
Treatment
Your doctor will prescribe anti-infective medication. Antibiotic eye drops or ointment may be used. They’ll tell you how long you can use them for. When you go a complete day without experiencing symptoms, you should be able to quit. If you aren’t feeling better after three days, you should contact your healthcare practitioner.
Some common topical antibiotic options include:
- Erythromycin ointment.
- Ciprofloxacin drops.
- Moxifloxacin drops.
For relatively minor scratches, you most likely won’t need pain medication. If you do, however, your doctor will likely advise you to take an OTC (over-the-counter) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAID). In other situations, your doctor might recommend a topical analgesic (ointment or drops for treating eye pain). Source
Diet
- Red and orange vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, tomatoes, winter squash, and various types of red peppers
- Leafy Greens
- Eggs
- Citrus
- Blueberries
- Almonds
- Fatty Fish
Prevention
Here are some things to think about to lower your chance of developing corneal abrasions. Source
- Wear safety glasses.
- Do not rub your eyes.
- Take care when wearing contact lenses.
- To keep your eyes moist, use lubricating eye drops.
- Keep unnecessary things out of your eyes.
- Before touching your eyes, wash your hands to prevent infection.
- Whenever you have an eye injury, get medical help.
- Stay away from dangerous drug exposure.
- Shield your eyes from UV rays.
- Take good care of your contact lenses.
- Go for routine eye exams
Also, read Complete Guide on Diabetic Retinopathy: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
