| Corneal abrasion | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A corneal abrasion after staining with fluorescein, it is the green mark on the eye. | |
| Specialty | Ophthalmology, emergency medicine |
| Symptoms | Eye pain, light sensitivity[1] |
| Usual onset | Rapid[2] |
| Duration | Less than 3 days[1] |
| Causes | Minor trauma, contact lens use[1] |
| Diagnostic method | Slit lamp exam[1] |
| Differential diagnosis | Corneal ulcer, globe rupture[1] |
| Prevention | Eye protection[1] |
| Frequency | 3 per 1,000 per year (United States)[1] |
Corneal abrasion is a scratch to the surface of the cornea of the eye.[3] Symptoms include pain, redness, light sensitivity, and a feeling like a foreign body is in the eye.[1] Most people recover completely within three days.[1]
Most cases are due to minor trauma to the eye such as that which can occur with contact lens use or from fingernails.[1] About 25% of cases occur at work.[1] Diagnosis is often by slit lamp examination after fluorescein dye has been applied.[1] More significant injuries like a corneal ulcer, globe rupture, recurrent erosion syndrome, and a foreign body within the eye should be ruled out.[1]
Prevention includes the use of eye protection.[1] Treatment is typically with antibiotic ointment.[1] In those who wear contact lenses a fluoroquinolone antibiotic is often recommended.[1] Paracetamol (acetaminophen), NSAIDs, and eye drops such as cyclopentolate that paralyse the pupil can help with pain.[1] Evidence does not support the usefulness of eye patching for those with simple abrasions.[4]
About 3 per 1,000 people are affected a year in the United States.[1] Males are more often affected than females.[1] The typical age group affected is those in their 20s and 30s.[1] Complications can include bacterial keratitis, corneal ulcer, and iritis.[1] Complications may occur in up to 10% of people.[5]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Ahmed F, House RJ, Feldman BH (September 2015). "Corneal Abrasions and Corneal Foreign Bodies". Primary Care. 42 (3): 363–75. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2015.05.004. PMID 26319343.
- ^ Leik MT (2013). Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Intensive Review: Fast Facts and Practice Questions, Second Edition (2 ed.). Springer Publishing Company. p. 112. ISBN 9780826134257. Archived from the original on 2016-11-07.
- ^ "Corneal Abrasion". nei.nih.gov. National Eye Institute. Archived from the original on 2016-11-07. Retrieved 2016-11-06.
- ^ Lim CH, Turner A, Lim BX (July 2016). "Patching for corneal abrasion". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016 (7): CD004764. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004764.pub3. PMC 6457868. PMID 27457359.
- ^ Smolin G, Foster CS, Azar DT, Dohlman CH (2005). Smolin and Thoft's The Cornea: Scientific Foundations and Clinical Practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 798. ISBN 9780781742061. Archived from the original on 2016-11-07.