Do You Have a Scratched Cornea?What to Do Next

Scratched Cornea Symptoms

Wondering if you might have a scratched cornea? The most common symptoms include:

• Eye pain or irritation
• Blurry vision
• Light sensitivity
• Tearing up
• Red eyes

Note that these symptoms can also accompany other eye conditions, so the best way to be sure you have a scratched cornea and not a more serious condition is to see an eye doctor for a diagnosis.

Let’s examine what a scratched cornea looks and feels like in more detail.

What Does a Scratched Cornea Feel Like?

The feeling of a scratched cornea can range from mild irritation to sharp, stabbing pain. A scratched cornea is often especially painful when you blink because of the friction of your eyelids against the scratch. It can also feel like you have sand or grit in your eye that won’t go away no matter how many times you blink.

Causes of a Scratched Cornea

Since the cornea is the outermost layer of your eye, it can easily get injured, even by seemingly “harmless” things. Here are some things that can cause a scratched cornea:

• Chemicals
• Dirt
• Dust
• Eye infection
• Fingernails
• Foreign particles
• Makeup brush
• Torn or overworn contact lenses
• Rubbing your eye too hard
• Sand
• Sports-related injury

Some of the causes of corneal scratches are easily avoidable if you’re careful enough, but an occasional abrasion can still happen by accident.

Corneal Abrasions in Infants and Children

Corneal abrasions are common in infants and young children due to their lack of motor skills and clumsiness. The causes of scratched corneas in children can be the same as in adults, but they’re especially likely to get self-inflicted abrasions from rubbing their eye too hard or scratching it with a fingernail.

The best way to prevent this injury in kids is to consistently trim their fingernails and have them wear eye protection when doing activities that might cause eye damage. If they’re old enough, try to teach them how to be gentle with their eyes and follow good eye safety practices.

Treatment for a scratched cornea in a younger child can include wearing an eyepatch for a day, applying antibiotic ointment, or wearing glasses instead of contacts for a couple of days.

Treatment for a Scratched Cornea

Your eye doctor can help you determine how to heal a scratched cornea. If you have a foreign body in your eye, they’ll be able to remove it safely.

Depending on your symptoms and the severity of the scratch, your eye doctor may suggest:

Your eye doctor may also suggest you take over-the-counter pain medication to help with any pain and inflammation. Small scratches should heal in a matter of days. Longer or deeper scratches will take more time—up to a week or more.

What Are the Complications of a Scratched Cornea?

Most corneal abrasions heal without any complications. However, potential complications can include:

• Infection
• Scarring
• Corneal ulcer
• Corneal erosion

These issues are more likely to occur with a deeper scratch or improper eye care after an abrasion. Following your eye doctor’s treatment recommendations is essential.

How to Avoid Future Scratches

There are a number of steps you can take to prevent corneal scratches. It’s mostly a matter of being aware of your eyes and what goes near them.

Practice Proper Contact Hygiene

If you wear contact lenses, you’re at higher risk of scratching your cornea due to the contact lens application process. Here are some best practices to avoid corneal scratches when using contacts:

• Be sure to apply your contacts as directed.
• When removing your contacts, avoid using your nails.
• Always clean and disinfect the lenses after taking them out.
• Keep your nails short to prevent any accidents while putting contacts in or taking them out.
• Always take your contacts out before going to sleep.
• Replace your contacts at the recommended frequency.
• Don’t use torn or damaged contacts.

This could involve wearing goggles, safety glasses, or a safety shield. Wearing sunglasses when you go outside can also help shield your eyes from both UV damage and debris in the air.

Don’t Touch Your Eyes

It’s easy to unconsciously rub or place your nails near your eye as you’re going about your day. Try to be mindful about where you put your hands and avoid touching your eyes unnecessarily. If you must touch your eyes, ensure your hands are thoroughly clean.

This also extends to children and pets. Keep their hands and paws away from your eyes when interacting with them.

Be Careful Putting On Makeup

If you wear makeup, be careful when applying it around your eyes. The bristles from a makeup brush or mascara wand can cause a corneal scratch.

Makeup can also contain irritating chemicals and materials that can cause corneal problems. Avoid using makeup around your eyes if it isn’t formulated for use in that area.

Get Your Eyes Checked Regularly

Having a professional look at your eyes regularly is one of the best ways to protect your vision health. Even if you don’t have an immediate injury, eye exams can identify issues you haven’t noticed and help prevent bigger problems down the road.

If you’ve never seen an eye doctor before, learn what to expect at your first eye exam—and be sure to schedule an appointment soon!

Care for Your Eyes with Visionworks

Whether you’re concerned about a scratched cornea or want to ward off future eye health issues, Visionworks can help. Our experienced eye doctors will give you a comprehensive eye exam and answer all your questions.

We also offer a wide selection of glasses and contact lenses, so if you need those, you can get them all in one place. Plus, our 100-day guarantee allows you to swap out your glasses or contacts if you’re not satisfied.

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