Last reviewed: 24 Aug 2023
Last updated: 07 Jan 2021
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- eye pain
- tearing
- photophobia
- blurred vision
- ciliary flush
More key diagnostic factors
Other diagnostic factors
- presence of foreign body
- corneal opacity
- rust ring
- blepharospasm
Other diagnostic factors
Risk factors
- eye trauma
- foreign body in the eye
- contact lens use
- working in the automobile industry
- lack of protective eyewear
- prior corneal abrasion
- deployment of airbag during automobile collision
More risk factors
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- visual acuity
- fluorescein staining
More 1st investigations to order
Investigations to consider
- CT scan of orbits
More investigations to consider
Treatment algorithm
ACUTE
acute corneal abrasion
ONGOING
recurrent corneal abrasions or poor healing
Contributors
Authors
Christopher McStay, MD

Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine
Department of Emergency Medicine
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Aurora
CO
Disclosures
CM declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Christopher Tedeschi, MD
Instructor in Clinical Medicine
Emergency Medicine Department
New York Presbyterian Hospital
Columbia University Medical Center
New York
NY
Disclosures
CT declares that he has no competing interests.
Rasik Vajpayee, MD
Chair of Ophthalmology
Corneal and Cataract Surgery
University of Melbourne
Melbourne
Australia
Disclosures
RV declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Conjunctivitis
- Corneal laceration with globe perforation
- Corneal ulceration and ulcerative keratitis
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