Corneal injury

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Cornea

See: Eye emergencies for information on immediate first aid.

Anyone with severe eye pain needs to be evaluated in an emergency care center or by an ophthalmologist immediately.

Treatment for corneal injuries may involve:

• Removing any foreign material from the eye
• Wearing an eye patch or temporary bandage contact lens
• Using eye drops or ointments prescribed by the doctor
• Not wearing contact lenses until the eye has healed
• Taking pain medicines

An abrasion or foreign object that is large enough to damage the cornea may not be visible without proper magnification or special eye drops that stain the cornea. Abrasions will often feel like foreign bodies in the eye.

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Injuries that affect only the surface of the cornea normally heal very rapidly with treatment. The eye should be back to normal within 2 days.

Penetrating corneal injuries are much more serious. The outcome depends on the specific injury.

Severe corneal injury may require extensive surgery or a cornea transplant.

Call your health care provider if the injury has not significantly improved in 2 days with treatment.

Review Date: 07/28/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Opthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).