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How Do I Choose the Best Corneal Abrasion Treatment?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Corneal abrasion is slight damage to the cornea or the front tissue of the eye. This “scratch” on the surface of the eye tends to heal within one to two days. Corneal abrasion treatment involves medical treatment with eye inspection, removal of any matter in the eye, prescription of antibiotic drops and occasionally steroid drops, and possibly eye patching.

About one in ten emergency room visits are a result of this eye injury. It is extremely painful because the cornea is connected to so many nerves. Even minute scratches make it difficult to open the eye or blink, cause pronounced tearing, and make the eyes extremely sensitive to light.

Wearing sunglasses can help protect an eye with a corneal abrasion.
Wearing sunglasses can help protect an eye with a corneal abrasion.

People may know why they have this condition. Possibly something got in the eye or the eye was accidentally poked, but sometimes the reason is unclear, and self-examination of the eye may not reveal much. One thing recommended is to wash the eye to remove any particulate matter, but if chemicals in the eye are a likely cause of eye pain, people should adhere to instructions about how to treat the eye for that chemical.

Corneal abrasions generally heal quickly, without treatment.
Corneal abrasions generally heal quickly, without treatment.

Frequently, people end up at emergency rooms or at doctors’ offices to get eye injury or corneal abrasion treatment. A basic examination for this condition includes paralyzing the eye to locate and properly diagnose the injury. When diagnosis is made, corneal abrasion treatment begins. Typically, any matter in the eye that could cause the irritation is removed, though there may be nothing to remove, and doctors prescribe antibiotic eyedrops to prevent infection.

Those with a corneal abrasion are advised to avoid wearing contact lenses.
Those with a corneal abrasion are advised to avoid wearing contact lenses.

Doctors typically ask patients to rest as much as possible for the rest of the day and to avoid activities that use the eyes like reading, driving and using the computer. Contact lens wearers are asked to wear glasses for a few days and the doctor may propose a recheck of the eye in one to two days. Home treatments are essentially rest, administering antibiotic drops, using sunglasses in strong indoor light or outside, and avoiding contact lenses.

To treat a corneal abrasion, doctors may prescribe antibiotic eyedrops.
To treat a corneal abrasion, doctors may prescribe antibiotic eyedrops.

One aspect of corneal abrasion treatment that invites debate is eye patching. This treatment used to be standard, but present medical wisdom suggests it isn’t that beneficial. Creating pressure on the eye may make it more painful, and it may restrict bloodflow to the eye, which delays healing. Most doctors have shifted to the position that patching isn’t necessary for a simple corneal abrasion, though it may be needed for more complex eye injuries.

Corneal abrasion is slight damage to the cornea or the front tissue of the eye.
Corneal abrasion is slight damage to the cornea or the front tissue of the eye.

Recurrent corneal abrasion treatment may be slightly different. Doctors may try to discern the cause, like ongoing exposure to irritants or particles, sleeping with contact lenses, or dry eyes from medication. Efforts are made to prevent recurrence through avoidance of behaviors that may cause abrasions, by using antibiotic or lubricating drops at night, or by a combination of both. Each individual abrasion case is typically treated by the methods stated above.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

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    • Wearing sunglasses can help protect an eye with a corneal abrasion.
      By: Thorsten
      Wearing sunglasses can help protect an eye with a corneal abrasion.
    • Corneal abrasions generally heal quickly, without treatment.
      By: Subbotina Anna
      Corneal abrasions generally heal quickly, without treatment.
    • Those with a corneal abrasion are advised to avoid wearing contact lenses.
      By: vladimirfloyd
      Those with a corneal abrasion are advised to avoid wearing contact lenses.
    • To treat a corneal abrasion, doctors may prescribe antibiotic eyedrops.
      By: ia_64
      To treat a corneal abrasion, doctors may prescribe antibiotic eyedrops.
    • Corneal abrasion is slight damage to the cornea or the front tissue of the eye.
      By: stockshoppe
      Corneal abrasion is slight damage to the cornea or the front tissue of the eye.