Corneal injury describes an injury to the cornea. The cornea is the crystal clear (transparent) tissue covering the front of the eye. It works with the lens of the eye to focus images on the retina.

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Health Topics
Corneal Injury

2. 1
Overview
Corneal injury describes an injury to the
cornea. The cornea is the crystal clear
(transparent) tissue covering the front
of the eye. It works with the lens of the eye to
focus images on the retina.

3. 2
Symptoms
-- Being very sensitive to
light
-- Blurred vision
-- Decrease in vision
-- Eye pain

4. 3
Symptoms
or stinging and burning in the eye
-- Feeling like something is in your eye, called a
foreign-body
sensation
-- Redness of
the eye, "bloodshot" eyes

5. 4
Symptoms
-- Swollen eyelids
-- Watery eyes or increased tearing

6. 5
Diagnoses
A complete eye exam must be done. The health
care provider may use a special stain called
fluorescein, placed on the surface
of the eye.
Tests that are used to examine the eye for

7. 6
Diagnoses
damage to the cornea include:
Standard
ophthalmic exam
Slit lamp
examination
of the eye

8. 7
Treatment
See: Eye emergencies
for information on immediate first aid.
Anyone with severe eye pain needs to be
evaluated in an emergency care center or by an
ophthalmologist immediately.

9. 8
Treatment
Treatment for corneal injuries may involve:
Removing
any foreign material from the eye
Wearing an
eye patch or temporary bandage contact lens

10. 9
Treatment
Using eye
drops or ointments prescribed by the doctor
Not wearing
contact lenses until the eye has healed
Taking pain
medicines

11. 10
Treatment
An abrasion or foreign object that is large
enough to damage the cornea may not be visible
without proper magnification or
special eye drops that stain the cornea. Abrasions
will often feel like foreign
bodies in the eye.

12. 11
Causes
Injuries to the cornea are common.
Injuries to the outer surface of the cornea,
called corneal abrasions, may be caused by:
Chemical

13. 12
Causes
irritation - from almost any fluid that gets into the
eye
Overuse of
contact lenses or lenses that don't fit correctly
Reaction or
sensitivity to contact lens solutions and cosmetics

14. 13
Causes
Scratches
or scrapes on the surface of the cornea (called an
abrasion)
Something
getting into the eye (such as sand or dust)
Sunlight,

15. 14
Causes
sun lamps, snow or water reflections, or arc-
welding
Infections
may also damage the cornea.
High-speed particles, such as chips from

16. 15
Causes
hammering metal on metal, may become
embedded in the surface of the cornea.
Rarely, they may pass through the cornea and go
deeper into the eye.
Injuries that affect only the surface of the
cornea normally heal very rapidly with treatment.
The eye should be back to

17. 16
Causes
normal within 2 days.
Penetrating corneal injuries are much more
serious. The outcome depends on the specific
injury. Severe corneal injury may require extensive
surgery or a cornea transplant.

18. 17
Risks
You are more likely to develop a corneal
injury if you:
Are exposed
to sunlight or artificial ultraviolet light for long
periods of time

19. 18
Risks
Have
ill-fitting contact lenses or overuse your contact
lenses
Have very dry eyes
Work in a
dusty environment

20. 19
Prevention
-- Wear safety goggles at all times when using hand
or power
tools or chemicals, during high impact sports, or in
other situations where
there is a potential for eye injury.

21. 20
Prevention
-- Wear sunglasses designed to screen ultraviolet
light when
you are exposed to sunlight, even during the
winter.
-- Be careful when using household cleaners. Many
household
products contain strong acids, alkalis, or other
chemicals. Drain and oven

22. 21
Prevention
cleaners are particularly dangerous. They can lead
to blindness if not used
correctly.