There are several things that can cause scratching of the corneal layer or corneal abrasion, such as wearing contact lenses for too long, wearing contact lenses that are cracked or broken at the edges, being hit/plugged in the eye, getting a foreign object in the eye (such as eyelashes or sand)., also liquid. The cornea has two functions; which helps other parts of the eye such as the sclera, tears, and eyelids to protect and remove foreign particles from the eye, and helps control the amount of light entering the eye, thus making the eye focus. Symptoms that occur when the cornea is scratched include watering, pain, and redness, twitching of the eyelids, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, or a feeling as if there is something in the eye. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help heal a scratched cornea.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Removing Foreign Body from Eye
Step 1. Try to blink
Sometimes, scratches on the cornea of the eye are caused by small objects that enter and become trapped behind the eyelids such as dust, dirt, sand, or even eyelashes. Before you start treating a scratch on the cornea, you must remove the foreign body from the eye. Try blinking several times in a row to get the foreign object out. Closing and opening your eyes can stimulate the tear glands to produce more tears and remove foreign bodies from your eyes.
- Do this for the eye with the problematic cornea: Pull the upper eyelid with your right hand toward the lower eyelid. The eyelashes on the lower eyelid can sweep foreign objects out of the eye.
- Do not try to remove a foreign object trapped in the eye with your fingers, tweezers, or other objects, as doing so can make eye pain worse.
Step 2. Rinse your eyes
If the foreign object doesn't come out after you try to blink, try rinsing the eye with water or saline solution. It is best to use a sterile solution or saline solution. Do not use tap water. The ideal ingredients for eye wash include a neutral pH of 7.0 and a temperature ranging from 15.5°C to 38°C. DO NOT pour eyewash in a container, although this is funny how often it is recommended. Pouring water with a container over the eye that contains a foreign object can cause the object to become lodged further inside the eye. Follow these guidelines to find out how long you should rinse your eyes:
- For chemicals with mild irritation, rinse for 5 minutes.
- For materials that cause moderate to severe irritation, rinse for at least 20 minutes.
- For non-penetrating corrosive materials such as acid, rinse for at least 20 minutes.
- For corrosive substances that can penetrate the eyeball such as lye, rinse for at least 60 minutes.
- Be sure to watch for any additional symptoms that may indicate that toxic liquid has entered the eye, such as: nausea or vomiting, headache or dizziness, impaired vision or blurred vision, dizziness or loss of consciousness, rash, and fever. If you find these symptoms occur to you, immediately consult a doctor.
Step 3. Use eye drops
Another method that can be used to remove foreign objects that are trapped in the eye is to apply eye drops that can wet the problem eye. Lubricant eye drops can be purchased at many of the nearest general pharmacy. You can apply the eye drops yourself or ask someone else to do it. The correct way to use eye drops is described in Section 3.
- Artificial tears are designed as a lubricant to keep the outer surface of the eyeball moist. This product is available at any drugstore or pharmacy under various brands. Some artificial tears contain preservatives to make the fluid on the surface of the eyeball last longer. However, this kind of preservative can irritate the eyes if used more than four times a day. If you need to use artificial tears more than four times a day, look for products that are preservative-free.
- Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and carboxy methylcellulose are two of the most common tear lubricants and can be found in regular pharmacies.
- Trying the product out in person is usually the only way to find the brand of artificial tears that works best for your eyes. In some cases, using a combination of products from several brands may even be necessary. In cases of chronic dry eye, artificial tears should be used even if the eye does not have any symptoms. Artificial tears are only an additional treatment and are not a substitute for natural tears.
Step 4. See a doctor if the scratch on the cornea gets worse and doesn't heal
Once the foreign body has been removed from the eye, a light scratch on the cornea should heal on its own within a few days. However, more serious scratches or infected scratches require antibacterial eye drops for the eye to heal properly. Check with your doctor if any of the following occur:
- You suspect a foreign object is still stuck in the eye.
- You experience a combination of any of these symptoms: blurred vision, eye redness, nagging pain, watery eyes, and extreme sensitivity to light.
- You think you have a corneal ulceration (an open sore on the cornea), which is usually caused by an infection in the eye.
- The eye discharges green, yellow, or pus that is accompanied by blood.
- You see a flash of light or you visualize some small dark object or shadow floating around you.
- You have a fever.
Part 2 of 4: Letting the Eyes Heal
Step 1. Get a diagnosis from a doctor
If you suspect you have injured your cornea, seeing an ophthalmologist is the best option. The doctor will use a small flashlight or ophthalmoscope to check for trauma to the eye. The doctor may also examine the problem eye with special eye drops that contain the dye fluorescein, which can make your tears yellow. This dye can help emphasize eye abrasions when exposed to light.
- To do this, the doctor must add a topical anesthetic to the eye, then he or she will gently pull on the lower eyelid. A piece of fluorescein is then placed over the eye and, when you blink, the dye spreads throughout the eyeball. The area of the eye that is yellow in normal light indicates a damaged area of the cornea. The doctor will then use a special cobalt blue light to illuminate the area of the abrasion and look for the cause.
- Some vertical abrasions may indicate a foreign body in the eye, while a branched abrasion may indicate herpetic keratitis. In addition, spaced trace marks may indicate scratches caused by the box lens.
- The use of this fluorescein dye will have an impact on your vision; You will see a yellow mist for a few minutes. During this stage, your nose may also be releasing yellow mucus.
Step 2. Take medication to ease the pain
If the scratched cornea is painful, it's a good idea to take an over-the-counter pain reliever (containing acetaminophen such as Tylenol) at your local pharmacy.
- Dealing with pain is important, because pain can stress the body and prevent the body from healing more quickly and effectively.
- Take pain relievers according to the instructions for use listed on the medicine package, and never take more than the recommended dose.
Step 3. Avoid wearing eye patches
Eye patches were originally used to help heal scratches on the cornea; however, a recent medical study found that blindfolds can actually amplify pain and prolong the healing process. The eye patch prevents the eye from blinking naturally, which puts pressure on the eyelid and causes pain. Using it will also enlarge the tear in the eye which will result in further infection and a slower healing process.
Blindfolds also reduce eye contact with oxygen; whereas corneal healing depends on oxygen
Step 4. Ask your doctor about other alternatives to using an eye patch
Today, doctors more often prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops, to be used in conjunction with soft contact lenses that can be discarded after a certain amount of use. These eye drops are designed to reduce the sensitivity of the cornea. Soft contact lenses are used as a “plaster” to protect the eye, speed up the healing process, and reduce pain during the process. Unlike blindfolds, this therapy allows you to see directly with your eyeballs, while medications work to reduce any inflammation. The most common eye drops and ointments prescribed in eye care medications include topical NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and antibiotics.
- Topical NSAIDs: Try diclofenac (Voltaren) with 0.1% active ingredient. Give one drop of the drug in the eye four times a day. You can also try ketorolac (Acular), the active ingredient content is 0.5%. Use just one drop four times a day. See Section 3 for how to use eye drops. Always follow the instructions for use and dosage described on the medicine package.
- Topical antibiotics: Try using bacitracin (AK-Tracin) ointment and applying it 1.27cm long two to four times a day. You can also use chloramphenicol (Chloroptic) ointment with 1% active ingredient and put two drops in the eye every three hours. Another option is ciprofloxacin (Ciloxan) with an active ingredient of 0.3%; The dose of use varies during treatment. On the first day, apply 2 drops every 15 minutes for 6 hours, then 2 drops every 30 minutes for the rest of the day. On the 2nd day, instill 2 drops of the drug every hour. Starting from the 3rd to the 14th day, put 2 drops of the drug every 4 hours. Always follow the instructions for use and the recommended dosage listed on the medicine package.
Step 5. Don't do your eye makeup
Eye makeup – such as using mascara, eye shadow, or eye liner – can irritate problematic eyes and slow down the healing process. Therefore, avoid applying eye makeup until the scratch on the cornea has completely healed.
Step 6. Put on the sunglasses
Wearing sunglasses when you are treating a scratched cornea is a good idea to protect your eyes from light sensitivity. Sometimes, a scratched cornea will cause the eye to become sensitive to light. You can protect your eyes from the light by wearing sunglasses with UV protection, even indoors.
If you have extreme sensitivity to light or your eyelids are cramping, your eye doctor may give you eye drops designed to enlarge the pupil of the eye to reduce pain and relax the muscle tissue in the eye. See Section 3 for how to use eye drops that can enlarge the pupil of the eye
Step 7. Don't wear contact lenses
Avoid wearing contact lenses until your doctor allows them. If you normally wear contact lenses, it is highly recommended to avoid wearing them for at least a week after the injury, until the cornea has completely healed.
- Doing this is especially important if the corneal scratch was originally caused by wearing contact lenses.
- Do not use contact lenses when you apply antibiotics to the injured cornea. Wait until 24 hours after the last use of antibiotics, then put on contact lenses again.
Part 3 of 4: Using Eye Drops
Step 1. Wash your hands
Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap before you apply eye drops. Avoiding contact of the injured eye with bacteria again is very important; otherwise you may cause an infection.
Step 2. Open the bottle of eye drops
Once opened, discard the first droplet that comes out to prevent any dirt or residue at the end of the medication package from getting into the eye.
Step 3. Tilt your head and hold a piece of tissue under the injured eye
These wipes will absorb the liquid medicine that spills from the eye. Raising your head, letting gravity work, and making the drops of medicine absorbed by the eyes is the best way, rather than just dripping the medicine.
You can use the eye drops while you are standing, sitting, or lying down, as long as you can hold your head up
Step 4. Add eye drops
Tilt your head up and use the index finger of your non-dominant hand to pull the lower eyelid away from the injured eye. Drop the medicine into the lower eyelid.
- Regarding the recommended number of drops of medicine that should be used in the eyes, follow the instructions for use listed on the packaging or instructions from the doctor. Do not exceed the recommended dose.
- If you must use more than one drop of medication, wait a few minutes before giving the next drop to make sure the first drop is absorbed by the eye, not washed out by the second.
- Make sure that the tip of the drop does not directly hit the eyeball, eyelid, or eyelashes, as foreign bacteria can enter the eye.
Step 5. Close your eyes
After the medication is instilled, slowly close the eye and keep it closed for at least 30 seconds to 2 minutes to allow the eye fluid to spread throughout the eyeball and prevent the medication from leaking out of the eye.
Be sure not to press too hard on the eye, as you may injure the eye and the medicine may flow out
Step 6. Wipe the excess medication around the eyes using a soft cloth or tissue
Part 4 of 4: Preventing Eye Cornea Scratches
Step 1. Wear eye protection when you do certain activities
Unfortunately, you are more likely to injure your cornea again if your cornea has been scratched before. Therefore, taking precautions to protect the eyes from foreign bodies and injuries is very important. For example, many studies show that wearing eye protection can reduce the risk of eye injury in the workplace by more than 90%. Consider wearing eye protection (or at least goggles) when doing the following activities:
- Playing sports such as softball, paintball, lacrosse, hockey, and racquetball.
- Work with chemicals, electrical equipment, or anything where the material or sparks can get in the eyes.
- Mowing grass and weeding weeds.
- Ride a car with an open roof, motorbike, or bicycle.
Step 2. Avoid wearing contact lenses for a long time, because the eyes can become dry, making them more susceptible to injury
Therefore, you should wear contact lenses only for the period of time recommended by your ophthalmologist.
Try to plan a schedule so that you don't have to wear contact lenses all day long. For example, if you run in the morning and you already have plans to ride a bike in the afternoon, wear glasses throughout the day between the two activities while you work at the computer. Make an effort to bring glasses with you during activities and replace contact lenses with glasses when necessary
Step 3. Use artificial tears to lubricate the eye, even after the scratch on the cornea has healed
In addition to lubricating the eye, artificial tears will also help remove foreign objects (such as eyelashes) before they can scratch the cornea.
