What is a corneal abrasion and a corneal foreign body?
The cornea is the clear layer at the front of your eye. An abrasion is a shallow scratch. So a corneal abrasion is a scratch to your cornea.
A corneal foreign body is an object, such as a grain of sand, that gets stuck in your cornea and irritates it.
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A minor corneal abrasion usually heals on its own in a few days
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A corneal foreign body needs to be removed by a doctor
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Sometimes an injury to your cornea can get infected—this is more likely to happen if injury was caused by a piece of soil or plant matter
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Eyedrops or ointment help prevent infection
See a doctor as soon as possible if you think you have a corneal scratch or something in your cornea.
What causes a corneal abrasion or a corneal foreign body?
Anything that can get into your eye can cause corneal problems. Small bits of material, such as particles in the air, may get blown into your eye by:
Your cornea can also get scratched by a:
Contact lenses are a common source of problems. You may have corneal problems if you:
People with dry eyes have a higher risk of getting a corneal abrasion. Those who work in places where small particles fly around in the air have a higher risk of getting a corneal abrasion or corneal foreign object.
What are the symptoms of a corneal abrasion or a corneal foreign body?
How can doctors tell if I have a corneal abrasion or a corneal foreign body?
Doctors can tell if you have a corneal injury by examining your eye. After they check your vision, they'll put a drop of dye in your eye and then look at your eye with a special light. The dye runs into the abrasion and the light makes it glow, which helps show a scratch or foreign body in your cornea. Eye doctors use a special magnifying scope (slit lamp) to look at the cornea.
How do doctors treat a corneal abrasion or a corneal foreign body?
How can I prevent corneal abrasions and corneal foreign bodies?
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Generic Name | Select Brand Names |
|---|---|
acetaminophen |
TYLENOL |
