Corneal Abrasion/Foreign Body

This leaflet aims to support verbal information given to you from the treating Nurse practitioner or Doctor. 

What is it? 

The cornea is the clear dome shaped window on the front of your eye; through this you are able to see the colour of your eye (iris). This part is very sensitive, so an abrasion/cut to this part of the eye can be very painful. 

Pic

Symptoms include: 

• History of recent injury to the eye (usually less than 24 hours) 

• Eye pain made worse with exposure to 

• the light. 

• Red eye 

• Profuse watering of the eye 

• Blurred vision 

Causes: 

• Direct minor trauma e.g. scratch from fingernail 

• Minute flying objects e.g. wood/metal while using power tools. 

• Particles become stuck to the surface e.g. dust particles after grinding metal. 

• Chemicals spilled directly into the eye or the vapour dissolves on the surface of the eye. 

How is it diagnosed? 

The Doctor/nurse practitioner will place some local anaesthetic drops into your eye, within 30 seconds the pain will settle. This helps with the examination; unfortunately they are not prescribed to take home as continued use will slow healing. 

To help identify the scratch orange eye drops will be placed. If there is a foreign body the Doctor/Nurse practitioner will attempt to remove this using a cotton bud or using the point of a fine needle. 

After care: 

• Majority of lesions heal up within 48 hours and do not require follow up. If the treating clinician feels you would benefit from formal follow up, this will be conveyed to you before discharge from the department. 

• Your eye will remain numb for 30-40 minutes; during this time do not touch the eye or expose it to flying debris. Take regular painkillers e.g. Paracetamol 1g FOUR times a day and/ or Ibuprofen 400 mg THREE times a day (if you are allergic or have a medical reason not to take these please inform the treating clinician). 

• Consider wearing sunglasses in bright areas for comfort. 

• If provided with an antibiotic ointment, apply this to the lower eyelid four times a day. The treating clinician will provide instruction on how to apply this effectively. 

Cautions: 

• Avoid operating heavy machinery for the first 48 hours/while experiencing symptoms. 

• Avoid driving (especially when dark) while you are experiencing symptoms. 

• Do not use contact lenses while symptomatic/minimum of 2 weeks. 

When & who should I seek further assistance from? 

Please return to the centre where you were first assessed (Minor Injuries Unit or Victoria Emergency Department) should the following develop: 

• Sudden increase in pain not responsive to simple painkillers. 

• Whole eye becomes red 

• Your cornea becomes white. 

Book an appointment with the high street optician: 

Sometimes after your injury has healed, weeks - months later you can wake up with the feeling that the abrasion has returned. DO NOT PANIC, either book an appointment with the high street optician for assessment and advice.