SCRATCHED EYE (CORNEAL ABRASION)

It began as an ordinary Monday morning. Ashia, a 32-year-old graphic designer, was hurrying to prepare for work when she sensed something small in her eye—possibly an eyelash or a speck of dust. She blinked her eyes. She rubbed them. She even rinsed her eyes with water. Yet, the discomfort persisted.
By noon, her right eye was red, teary, and highly sensitive to light. Staring at her computer screen became intolerable. What she initially considered a minor irritation had escalated into sharp pain with every blink.

A visit to an Optometrist confirmed the diagnosis: she had a scratched cornea, medically known as a corneal abrasion. Scratched corneas (corneal abrasions) are more common than many people realize—and they can occur in everyday situations like Ashia’s.

In this post, we will guide you through: what exactly a scratched eye is, identifying symptoms, safe home remedies, when to consult an Optometrist, and how to avoid it altogether.

However, before diving into what happens when the cornea is injured and how the eye reacts to the damage, let us explore the cornea’s function in vision.

THE CORNEA’S ROLE IN VISION

The cornea is the clear, protective, dome-shaped layer at the front of the eye. It aids in focusing light on the retina and acts as the eye’s first line of defense against dust, bacteria, and injury. When the cornea becomes scratched, the outermost layer (epithelium) is disrupted; this results in a corneal abrasion. Due to the thousands of nerve endings in the cornea, even a minor scratch can be extremely painful.

WHAT IS A SCRATCHED EYE (CORNEAL ABRASION)?

A scratched eye, medically referred to as a corneal abrasion or scratched cornea, is among the most common eye injuries. It occurs when the cornea is scratched by a foreign object, such as dust, sand, or fingernails, or from mishandling of contact lenses, and excessive eye rubbing. Although often minor, a scratched eye that may appear to be a small injury can lead to considerable discomfort, severe pain, and potential serious complications if not addressed or treated appropriately.

Would you like to learn more about the causes and signs of scratched eyes? Stay tuned for our next post.

Take care of your eyes by booking an eye exam or consulting with our professional at TREETOP VISION EYE CENTRE (TREVEC), the best eye clinic in Utako, Abuja.

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