Corneal abrasions are scratches to the surface of the cornea of the eye

This common eye injury creates an open wound that increases your risk of a serious eye infection
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Corneal abrasions are scratches to the surface of the cornea of the eye

THIS COMMON EYE INJURY CREATES AN OPEN WOUND THAT INCREASES YOUR RISK OF A SERIOUS EYE INFECTION
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Corneal abrasions can be very uncomfortable

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Corneal abrasions incidence / prevalence

The cornea is the clear, outer window of the eye. A corneal abrasion is simply a scratch in the epithelium (skin of the eye), or the thin, outer layer of the cornea. Abrasions usually heal in a short time period, sometimes within hours. Deeper or larger scratches may take up to a week. The cornea has a tremendous number of nerve endings, which makes any damage to the cornea very painful.

Symptoms of corneal abrasions

  • History of a recent eye trauma
  • Watery eyes
  • Acute pain
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Blurry vision
  • The feeling that there’s something in your eye
  • Twitching eyelid

Corneal abrasions are often caused by:

  • Foreign body in the eye
  • Contact lenses
  • Chemicals
  • Scratched eye (fingernails, hairbrushes, tree branches, etc.)
  • Welder’s flash

Your eye doctor can identify corneal abrasions by examining your eyes with magnifying instruments.

Your doctor will check your eye, including under your eyelid, to make sure there are no foreign materials present. The doctor may use fluorescein dye to help locate and identify the corneal abrasions.

A corneal abrasion is simply a scratch on the outer layer of the cornea.

Corneal abrasions are treated by either patching the eye or by placing a bandage contact lens on the eye. The doctor will use antibiotic ointment or drops to prevent infection. Small abrasions heal within several hours while large abrasions may take several days.

Do corneal abrasions cause permanent scarring?

Superficial corneal abrasions heal without scarring. However, deeper abrasions may leave some scarring.

Will corneal scars affect my vision?

If the corneal scar is directly in the line of sight, vision may be affected. More peripheral corneal scars do generally not affect vision.

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I am so glad the doctor suggested LRI with my cataract surgery. I had never heard of it but it is amazing how my astigmatism is dissipating slowly and it is the reason I started wearing glasses 30 years ago! Even working around pandemic guidelines everyone is polite and cooperates as a team.

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I would recommend Memorial Eye Institute and Dr. Erik Chotiner for their expertise. They are all very professional and caring for their patients. It was an excellent experience.

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I cannot thank Dr. Chotiner and his staff enough for what they have done for me. I had LASIK here 16 years ago and that was a life changing event for me. Prior to that, my vision was always poor and then (after surgery) it was great. Now I have cataracts and once again, getting the first eye done was a life changing experience.

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Academic resources on corneal abrasions & erosion

FOLLOW THE LINKS BELOW TO DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THIS TREATMENT FROM AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES

Corneal abrasion and erosion

A corneal abrasion is a scratch, scrape on the surface of your cornea. Fingernails, makeup brushes and tree branches are common culprits of corneal abrasions. Some other causes of corneal abrasion are rubbing your eye and having very dry eyes. Click here to read on.

The CMGs are guidelines on the diagnosis and management of a range of common and rare, but important, eye conditions that present with varying frequency in primary and first contact care. Click here to read on.

The purpose of this study is to comprehensively review the literature regarding recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) and to present treatment options and recommendations for management. Click here to read on.

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Dr. Bennett Chotiner
M.D., F.A.C.S.

MEDICAL DIRECTOR, GENERAL OPHTHALMOLOGY, CATARACT & REFRACTIVE SURGERY, LASIK SURGERY

Dr. Bennett Chotiner is the founder and medical director of Memorial Eye Institute. A noted innovator, in 1977 he established his clinical practice, the Pennsylvania Eye Associates. In 1984, he established the Pennsylvania Eye Surgery Center, Pennsylvania’s first …

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Dr. Erik A Chotiner
M.D., F.A.C.S.

GENERAL OPHTHALMOLOGY, CATARACT & REFRACTIVE SURGERY, LASIK SURGERY

Erik Chotiner, M.D. diagnoses and treats a wide range of medical eye conditions. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Franklin and Marshall College. Dr. Chotiner attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia where he received multiple awards including the Physiology Prize for …

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