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Corneal abrasions are self-limited, superficial epithelial defects.
The most common conjunctival and corneal injuries are foreign bodies and abrasions. Improper use of contact lenses can damage the cornea. Superficial foreign bodies often spontaneously exit the cornea in the tear film, occasionally leaving a residual abrasion, but other foreign bodies remain on or within the cornea. Sometimes, a foreign body trapped under the upper lid causes a vertical corneal abrasion that worsens with blinking. Intraocular penetration can occur with seemingly minor trauma, particularly with foreign bodies resulting from high-speed machines (eg, drills, saws, anything with a metal-on-metal mechanism), hammering, or explosions. Infection generally does not develop from a corneal injury. However, if intraocular penetration is not recognized, infection within the eye (endophthalmitis), although somewhat rare, may develop.
Symptoms and Signs
Symptoms and signs of abrasion or foreign body include foreign body sensation, tearing, redness, and occasionally discharge. Vision is rarely affected (other than by tearing).
Diagnosis
After an anesthetic (eg, 2 drops of proparacaine 0.5%) is instilled into the conjunctiva, each lid is everted, and the entire conjunctiva and cornea are inspected with a binocular lens (loupe) or a slit lamp. Fluorescein staining (see Approach to the Ophthalmologic Patient: Corneal examination) with cobalt light illumination renders abrasions and nonmetallic foreign bodies more apparent. Patients with a high-risk intraocular injury or (more rarely) visible globe perforation undergo CT to rule out intraocular foreign body and complete examination by an ophthalmologist, including slit-lamp examination and indirect ophthalmoscopy with eye dilation.
Treatment
After an anesthetic is instilled into the conjunctiva, clinicians can remove conjunctival foreign bodies by irrigation or lift them out with a moist sterile cotton applicator. A corneal foreign body that cannot be dislodged by irrigation may be lifted out carefully on the point of a sterile spud or of a 25- or 27-gauge hypodermic needle under loupe or, preferably, slit-lamp magnification; the patient must be able to stare without moving the eye during removal. Steel or iron foreign bodies remaining on the cornea for more than a few hours may leave a rust ring on the cornea that also requires removal under slit-lamp magnification by scraping or using a low-speed rotary burr; removal is usually done by an ophthalmologist.
Abrasions:
For all abrasions, an antibiotic ointment (eg, bacitracin/polymyxin B or ciprofloxacin 0.3% qid for 3 to 5 days) is used. Contact lens wearers with corneal abrasions require an antibiotic with optimal antipseudomonal coverage (eg, ciprofloxacin 0.3% ointment qid). For symptomatic relief of larger abrasions (eg, area > 10 mm2), the pupil is also dilated with a short-acting cycloplegic (eg, one drop cyclopentolate 1% or homatropine 5%). Eye patches may increase risk of infection and are usually not used, particularly for an abrasion caused by a contact lens or an object that may be contaminated with soil or vegetation. Ophthalmic corticosteroids tend to promote the growth of fungi and reactivation of herpes simplex virus and are contraindicated. Continued use of topical anesthetics can impair healing and is thus contraindicated.
The corneal epithelium regenerates rapidly; even large abrasions heal within 1 to 3 days. A contact lens should not be worn for 5 to7 days. Follow-up examination by an ophthalmologist 1 or 2 days after injury is wise, especially if a foreign body was removed with a needle or spud.
Intraocular foreign bodies:
Intraocular foreign bodies require immediate surgical removal by an ophthalmologist. Systemic and topical antimicrobials (effective against Bacillus cereus if the injury involved contamination with soil or vegetation) are indicated; they include ceftazidime 1 g IV q 12 h, in combination with vancomycin 15 mg/kg IV q 12 h and moxifloxacin 0.5% ophthalmic solution q 1 to 2 h. Ointment should be avoided if the globe is lacerated. A protective shield (such as a Fox shield or the bottom third of a paper cup) is placed and taped over the eye to avoid inadvertent pressure that could extrude ocular contents through the penetration site. Tetanus prophylaxis is indicated after open globe injuries. As with any laceration of the globe, vomiting, which can increase intraocular pressure, should be prevented. If nausea occurs, an antiemetic is given.
Last full review/revision March 2007 by Kathryn Colby, MD, PhD
Content last modified February 2010
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