What should you do if you accidentally scratch your eye? It’s important to get first aid treatment at an eye clinic as soon as possible. If your cornea—the clear layer covering your iris and the pupil—gets scratched, your vision may be permanently affected.
The Symptoms of Corneal Abrasion
A superficial eye scratch usually has the following symptoms:
- Pain in your eyes, particularly when you close your eyelids
- The feeling there’s sand or grit in your eyes
- Teary, red eyes
However, if your cornea was scratched, you may experience more serious symptoms such as:
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Headaches
If you experience any of the aforementioned symptoms, you should see an eye specialist as soon as possible.
How Serious Is the Corneal Abrasion?
It depends on which layer of the cornea was scratched. The epithelium is the outermost layer of the cornea and is similar to skin. Beneath the epithelium is a tough, protective structure called Bowman’s membrane. Minor corneal abrasions—which comprise the majority of cases—only affect these two layers and are expected to heal on their own within one to three days without any additional effects.
If you experience a lot of pain in your eyes, the corneal abrasion may have penetrated several layers. Deeper abrasions require treatment because they can cause permanent corneal scars, whitish areas in your cornea that may affect your vision. Should you feel pain in your eyes, don’t hesitate to go to the emergency room. More serious corneal abrasions will take a longer time to heal and may need additional treatment.
Treatment for Corneal Abrasion
To check for eye scratches and any foreign particles, the optician at your local eye clinic will examine your eyes with a light. If they suspect your eyes suffered minor abrasions, they’ll place a drop of a yellow-orange dye called fluorescein in the affected eye. If there are any abrasions, the areas with the dye will look greenish when exposed to special blue light. No further tests are needed for minor corneal abrasions. However,
To reduce inflammation and prevent scarring, your optician may prescribe antibiotics or steroid eye drops. Note that you shouldn’t use eye drops, even over-the-counter ones, without a prescription from your doctor. They won’t help your eyes heal faster and will likely worsen their condition. To treat eye pain, your optician may prescribe nonprescription pain relievers. They might also prescribe cycloplegic drugs—which temporarily reduce the activity of the muscles controlling the size of your pupil—to reduce sensitivity to light.
First Aid For Eye Scratches
In the meantime, here are the things you should and shouldn’t do to prevent the injury from getting worse:
What to Do
- Rinse the scratched eye with saline solution or clean water – Wash the scratched eye with saline solution or clean water to remove foreign objects that may have gotten into your eye. It’s best to use an eyecup—an emergency eye care device that’s usually included in first aid kits—or a small, clean glass if you don’t have one.
- Blink frequently – Blinking can also help flush out foreign particles that may have gotten into the scratched eye.
- Pull the upper eyelid over the lower eyelid – This can induce more tears, which can wash away foreign particles. The lashes on your lower eyelid may also remove particles under the upper eyelid.
- Wear sunglasses – Serious corneal abrasions may cause sensitivity to light. To protect your eyes, wear UV-resistant sunglasses from an eye clinic or shop; avoid wearing sunglasses bought from drugstores, as their tinted lenses offer no protection against ultraviolet rays.
What Not to Do
- Avoid rubbing your eyes – Rubbing your eyes may aggravate their injury.
- Avoid using foreign objects to remove foreign particles – This includes your fingers, tweezers, and cotton swabs. Using foreign objects to remove foreign particles will only aggravate corneal abrasions.
- Don’t wear your contact lenses – Contacts shouldn’t be placed over a scratched cornea due to the risk of bacterial infection. Not to mention the lenses can aggravate eye injuries.
The Usual Causes of Corneal Abrasions
Corneal abrasions are the most common eye injury in children in the country. Kids may suffer corneal abrasions if they:
- Rub their eyes too hard
- Play with pencils, pens, and other pointed objects
- Don’t wear protective eyewear while playing sports (Baseball and football players tend to suffer more eye injuries than players in other sports)
However, adults may also suffer corneal abrasions if:
- Particles such as sawdust and ash manage to get into their eyes
- An eye infection develops
- Unwashed hands are used to put on contacts
- Contacts are worn for too long
Preventing Eye Scratches
Here are some tips for preventing eye scratches
- Always wear safety eyewear when playing sports or working in farming and construction – Without proper eye protection, sawdust and other particles can easily enter your eyes. You can ask an eye specialist about the kinds of protective eyewear that should be worn while playing sports or when working in certain industries. Make sure your protective eyewear is properly fitted by a professional; dust and other particles can enter your eyes if protective eyewear isn’t the right fit.
- Trim your kids’ fingernails – Kids may accidentally scratch their eyes with their long fingernails
- Wash your hands before putting on your contact lenses – Foreign particles, not to mention bacteria, on your hands can get into your eyes if you forget to wash them before putting on your contacts.
Cleaning Your Contacts
It’s also important to clean your contact lenses after every use. Here are some cleaning tips:
- Carefully read the instructions on the label of the lens cleaning solutions. Cleaning solutions that contain hydrogen peroxide should be handled with care.
- Avoid cleaning your contact lenses with water—tap water may contain microorganisms that can cause eye infections. Use the lens cleaning solution prescribed by the optometrist from your local eye clinic.
- Throw away the leftover cleaning solution and refill the lens case with a new solution.
- Do not transfer the lens-cleaning solution to smaller travel-sized unsterile bottles.
- Replace lens cases every three months.
Important Note: If you’re having difficulty seeing even while wearing your contacts, you might need to see your eye doctor for a contact exam.
Vision Health Tips
Superficial corneal abrasions will heal quicker if you keep your eyes healthy. Here are some health tips to help keep your eyes and your vision in good shape:
- Eat a healthy diet – Include antioxidant-rich foods, like green leafy vegetables, as well as fatty fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, in your diet.
- Minimize consumption of food high in artery-clogging saturated fats – The blood vessels in your eyes are quite thin, so blockages in the arteries can adversely affect your vision.
- Exercise regularly – Regular exercise helps improve blood flow and prevent health conditions that can affect your vision, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
- Know your family history – Genetics can increase your risk for certain health conditions such as diabetes, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule while using digital devices – The glare and blue light from your devices’ screen can strain your eyes. Taking a break and looking away at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes can help minimize eye strain.
- See your eye doctor for an eye or contact exam at least once every year – The symptoms of certain eye conditions don’t appear until the late stages. By the time symptoms do emerge, the condition may have already affected your vision. That’s why it’s important that patients undergo a comprehensive eye exam at least once every year. Remember: The sooner eye conditions are detected and treated, the better.
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