Scratched eye
Symptoms
- Feels like sand in the eye
- Pain when blinking
- Watery eyes
Diagnostics
Determined by a thorough eye examination
Treatment
- Eye drops
What is a scratched eye?
The medical term for scratching or scraping the eye is “corneal abrasion”, which is one of the most common eye injuries. It can often cause discomfort, redness of the eye and severe sensitivity to light. Corneal abrasion occurs when the top cell layer of the cornea (called the corneal epithelium) is disrupted or destroyed. The severity of the condition can vary.
Corneal abrasion can impair your vision and make the eye more susceptible to infection, and can also be quite painful. If you are in a lot of pain, it is important to have your eye checked by an eye specialist or an ophthalmology department.
What are the symptoms of a scratched eye?
Signs and symptoms of a scratched eye include:
- Feels like sand or gravel in the eye;
- Painful eyes, especially when waking up and closing your eyes;
- Tearing or crying eyes;
- Red eyes;
- Light sensitivity;
- Blurred vision.
If you experience any of these symptoms or visual changes, it is important to get your eyes checked as soon as possible.
What causes a scratched eye?
There are many ways in which corneal abrasion can occur. Regardless of the size, anything that comes into contact with the surface of the eye can injure it. The most common causes are airborne particles such as dust or sand, or any object that comes into contact with the open eye, for example, during children’s games or DIY activities.
Dry eyes can increase the risk of corneal abrasion due to inadequate eye hydration. In dry areas of the eye, the corneal surface becomes fragile, making it more likely to be damaged, even by something as simple as rubbing the eyes.
How is the diagnosis of a scratched eye performed?
In most cases of corneal abrasion, it slowly heals on its own within a few days. However, because surface damage makes the eye more susceptible to infection, an abraded eye may require antibiotic eye drops or ointment.
What help is available?
The main thing is not to rub your eyes. Small scratches on the cornea usually heal within a few days. Your doctor may prescribe eye drops to lubricate your eyes and reduce the chance of infection. You may also need to stop wearing contact lenses for a while.
Always wear eye protection when there is a risk of eye damage, for example when working in dusty environments, among dense vegetation or during DIY activities. If you feel something in your eye, blink a few times to get the foreign body out, and if that doesn’t work, gently flush your eye with clean water or sterile saline. If pain or discomfort persists, seek medical attention.
Take care of your eyes!
Visit your nearest Optikos pasaulio showroom or register for an ophthalmologist consultation at Familia Clinica in Vilnius (Nemenčinės pl. 4D) and get a 15% discount with your Optikos pasaulio loyalty card.
Frequently asked questions
Ką daryti, jei vaikas ar kūdikis patiria ragenos abraziją?
Kaip ir bet kurios akies ar regos problemos atveju, patiems beveik neįmanoma įvertinti pažaidos rimtumo, todėl geriausia, kad akis patikrintų akių specialistas. Specialistas gali pasiūlyti būklės stebėjimą, gydymą ar nukreipimą pas akių gydytoją, jei pažeidimas yra rimtesnis, tačiau paprastai dauguma įbrėžimų išgyja savaime.
Ar ragenos abrazija rimta?
Ragenos abrazijos sunkumas nustatomas atsižvelgiant į abrazijos dydį ir vietą bei tai, kaip giliai ji pažeidžia rageną. Akių skausmas ne visada parodo žalos dydį, todėl visada geriausia kreiptis pas akių specialistą. Nors dauguma įbrėžimų savaime sugyja, jie gali būti užkrėsti ar suformuoti randą, kuris gali sukelti ilgalaikę žalą ir paveikti regėjimą.
Kokie subraižytos akies simptomai?
Ragena, subraižytas akies obuolio plotas, yra labai jautri, todėl ragenos įbrėžimai gali būti labai skausmingi. Pajusite, tarsi kažkas būtų įstrigę Jūsų akyje, akis gali parausti, ašaroti ir jautriai reaguoti į šviesą.
