Corneal Abrasions
What is a corneal abrasion?
A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the surface of the eyeball called the cornea. The cornea is a clear, dome-shaped part at the front of the eye. It covers the colored part of your eye (the iris) and the black center (the pupil).
[See Figure 1]
Fig. 1: A corneal abrasion is a scratch or cut on the surface of the cornea.
WHY ARE CORNEAL ABRASIONS SO PAINFUL?
The cornea is very sensitive. It has many tiny nerves that let the brain know something is wrong. Sometimes, an abrasion is caused by a small piece of metal or plastic stuck on the eye's surface. These objects should be removed by a doctor.
HOW ARE CORNEAL ABRASIONS TREATED?
Small corneal abrasions can heal on their own without treatment. Bigger abrasions may need antibiotic drops or ointment to prevent an infection. Even after the scratch heals, your eye doctor may recommend an ointment to help stop it from coming back.
HOW FAST DO CORNEAL ABRASIONS HEAL?
The cornea heals by growing a new top layer over the scratch. The size of the scratch and how healthy the cornea is will affect how fast it will heal. Many scratches heal in 1-5 days.
HOW IS DYE USED TO DETECT A CORNEAL ABRASION?
Doctors can use a yellow dye called fluorescein to help see the corneal abrasion. The dye is put on the eye using eye drops or a paper strip. The dye turns green in the area of the scratch when a special blue light is shined on the eye.
[See Figure 2].
Fig. 2: Fluorescent dye can be used to see a corneal abrasion.
Updated 04/2025
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