Scratched eye

Published on

September 30, 2022

The purpose of this article is to explain how to deal with corneal abrasions. If you scratched your eye you are not alone, about 10% of emergency eye care is related to corneal abrasions or scratches to the eye.

If you live in Olympia and have a scratched eye, read on to find out what you should do.

What are corneal abrasions?

Corneal abrasions are also referred to as a scratch to the eye. A sudden injury or something stuck under the lid can cause it to occur, leading to scratches on the eyes as you blink.

It is usually followed by a lot of pain. That's because the cornea actually contains nerves. It has a lot of nerves on the front surface. If your eye gets scratched, it will hurt, especially when you blink, and you may have difficulty closing that eye sometimes.

Who is at risk of corneal abrasions?

Corneal abrasions are more likely to occur in people with dry eyes, in those who wear contact lenses, or in people who work in dusty or debris-filled environments. This is why eye doctors are very vocal that people should always wear protective eye wear whenever they are in a dusty or debris-filled environment.

What should I do if I have a scratched eye?

The first thing you should do is call our eye doctor. Even though many minor scratches heal on their own, or with artificial tears, it is still important to see an eye doctor. The biggest concern is infection. Therefore, we want to make sure that any infection is prevented. Think of it like an open wound where bacteria can get in and infect the eye. In order to heal the eye, antibiotic drops are often used, along with other drops.

In cases of corneal abrasions or scratches that are more severe, optometrists may use a bandage contact lens to ease the pain and speed up the healing process. Depending on how deep or large the scratches are, they will either heal in a few days or require a bit more attention. Most of the time, if they're properly cared for, they heal well and don't scar unless they're deeper than there is a risk of scarring.

Schedule an emergency eye exam at Amplify EyeCare Olympia

You should always see an eye doctor if you think you have a corneal abrasion or scratch on your eye to make sure you are receiving the proper treatment. While some people think that an urgent care or an emergency room is the best place to go, it is actually an eye doctor that has the most extensive experience and equipment to make sure that your scratched eye is taken care of. A simple scratch will usually heal on its own within a few days, but it's important to consult an eye doctor to prevent infection and complications. To schedule an emergency eye exam with our eye doctor, call (360) 491-2121.

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Family Vision Clinic changed our lives! My daughter was frequently car sick, and she was getting headaches every day, often painful enough that they brought her to tears. We saw a string of doctors and therapists, but we made no progress. Finally, we found Dr. Levi Zurcher and his eye therapist Rain. After ten weeks of eye therapy my daughter no longer gets headaches, and she no longer gets car sick. Daily tears are a thing of the past. I really can’t say enough about this clinic. It was fascinating to watch Dr. Zurcher work. For the first time, someone who knew what they were doing was intently studying my daughter, really trying to figure out all of her eye issues, and his therapist Rain is one of the most patient and lovely people that I’ve ever had the good fortune to meet. We’re finished with eye therapy—yay!—and I have switched to American Family Vision Clinic for all of my family’s other eye health needs.

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