Corneal abrasions

Corneal abrasions usually have a sudden onset. Typical symptoms include a foreign body sensation (even if none present), photophobia, excessive tearing, blepharospasm, and blurry vision.

Treatment involves adequate analgesia and topical antibiotics. Contact lens wearers are at increased risk of Pseudomonas infection.

Patching does not speed up healing or offer pain relief.

Most abrasions heal within 1 or 2 days and have very few sequelae.

Larger defects, or those associated with contact lens use, should have ophthalmologic follow-up in 1-2 days to ensure healing.

Complications are rare but include corneal ulceration and keratitis.

Corneal abrasions are corneal epithelial defects. They are common and are typically caused by mechanical trauma from external objects such as fingernails and branches, foreign bodies that become lodged underneath the eyelids, or contact lens use. Patients who have had a previous injury and structural defects to the corneal epithelium are at risk for spontaneous abrasions known as recurrent erosions.