Scratches on the surface of the cornea are known as Corneal Abrasions. The symptoms of Corneal Abrasions include an extra sensitivity to light, blurry vision, pain in the eye, and the feeling of something being in your eye. As always, be sure to check with your eye doctor if you have any of these symptoms to be sure of the actual cause.
Checking for Corneal Abrasions
The main way your eye doctor would use to check for a Corneal Abrasion would be by using a dye called fluorescein which is a greenish yellow liquid that can highlight scratches on the cornea. The doctor can then spot those abrasions using a slit lamp to take a closer look at your eye.
Depending on the size and severity of the Corneal Abrasion, it could take anywhere from a day to a week to heal. Your eye doctor will let you know the severity of an abrasion after the examination and give you proper treatments to aid in the healing process.
Protection from Abrasion
The following is a list from the AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology) on how to protect your cornea from abrasion:
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Wear safety goggles or other eye protection when mowing the lawn and trimming bushes. Also use them when cutting wood and steel.
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Always wear safety glasses when playing sports.
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Clip your child’s fingernails. Babies and children can accidentally scratch their corneas with their fingernails.
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Pay attention when putting on eye makeup or using a hairbrush or curling iron.
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If you wear contact lenses, follow directions for caring for them.
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