
A scratched eye may turn into a sore over the cornea and cause blindness. Hence, it is important to seek immediate medical care for a scratched eye (corneal abrasion). Depending on the cause, an eye scratch could leave minor to major impacts. Whatever the reason is, or the injury type is, one must not ignore an eye scratch. The cornea is one of the most important parts that make up the human eye. The cornea is a shield to the eye, and it is one of the surfaces that allow the eye to see. The reason why corneal abrasions can be hard to deal with is that they happen on the clear layer of the eye, which means that they can be quite hard to detect. Patients can feel immense pain, but a scratch cannot be seen until it is a huge one. Even small scratches that don’t expose the inner layers of the cornea can be very painful and affect vision. The injury may heal within a week; however, consult an eye specialist promptly to determine the severity of the injury. Minor scratches may heal within a very little time. However, serious scratches take a good time to heal.
Things to do immediately:
- Blink rapidly because this can cause the eye to water and help flush out small bits of debris.
- Rinse your eye with a sterile saline solution to flush out particles. One can use a bottle of saline or even a clean drinking glass.
- Wear sunglasses if your eye is sensitive to light because of the scratch. Sunglasses will lessen the symptoms while you heal.
- You can pull the upper eyelid over the lower eyelids. The lower eyelid lashes can remove foreign objects underneath the upper eyelid.
Things not to do:
- Do not rub your eye.
- Do not touch your eye with anything such as a Q-tip or tweezers.
- Do not wear your contact lenses.
- Do not patch the eye unless instructed to do so by an optometrist.
An eye doctor may prescribe the following:
- Antibiotic ointment and an eye pad to keep the eye closed: This may allow the cornea to heal without being interrupted by blinking. The cornea usually heals in 2-3 days, but patients must follow the doctor’s instructions about how long to use the ointment for avoiding complications.
- Lubricants at night: To prevent the eyelid from sticking to the cornea while sleeping and tearing the healing eye skin. These lubricants may need to be continued for several weeks.
- Eye drops: Eye drops such as cyclopentolate dilates (enlarges) the pupil and helps to relieve pain. Vision is blurred for at least 12 hours after the drop has been used.
How is it diagnosed?
In most cases, the diagnosis is confirmed by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor). The ophthalmologist examines the cornea with a microscope. A drop of anesthetic is given to make the examination more comfortable. A small amount of dye will also be put onto your eye so that the abrasion can be seen more clearly. An ophthalmologist mostly depends on signs and symptoms before proceeding with further examinations:
- A feeling of pain, especially when you open and close your eyes
- Feeling like something is stuck in your eyes, such as sand or dust, and no matter what you do you can’t get it out
- Excessive production of tears
- Intense sensitivity to light, both natural and artificial
- Redness in one or both of the eyes, especially around the area where the pain originates
- One-sided headaches that won’t go away
- Affected vision can include blurred vision, not being able to distinguish objects from afar or up close, and even losing visual effectiveness in the night
Can there be any permanent damage?
Most corneal abrasions or eye scratches heal quickly, and vision returns completely. In a small number of cases, although the skin over the cornea heals, it does not bind down entirely and can stick to the eyelid at night and rip when waking and opening the eyes or when the eyes move rapidly while dreaming. This is called recurrent corneal erosion syndrome and may require the prolonged use of lubricant eye ointments and occasionally laser surgery. If such symptoms reoccur please seek medical advice.

QUESTION
What causes dry eyes? See AnswerHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
Top Can a Scratched Eye Heal Without Treatment? Related Articles
Azopt (brinzolamide) ophthalmic suspension
Azopt is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of ocular hypertension of open-angle glaucoma in adults. Serious side effects of Azopt include hives, difficulty breathing, swelling in your face or throat, fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling, eye pain or redness, swelling of the eyes, sensitivity to light, and others.Eye Problems and Diabetes
Diabetes and eye problems are generally caused by high blood sugar levels over an extended period of time. Types of eye problems in a person with diabetes include glaucoma, cataracts, and retinopathy. Examples of symptoms include blurred vision, headaches, eye aches, pain, halos around lights, loss of vision, watering eyes. Treatment for eye problems in people with diabetes depend on the type of eye problem. Prevention of eye problems include reducing blood pressure, cholesterol levels, quitting smoking, and maintaining proper blood glucose levels.Eye Anatomy Detail Picture
The eye has a number of components which include but are not limited to the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, retina, macula, optic nerve, choroid and vitreous. See a picture of Eye Anatomy Detail and learn more about the health topic.What Are the Types of Eye Care?
Many common eye disorders resolve without treatment and some may be managed with over-the-counter (OTC) products. It's important to visit a physician or ophthalmologist is the problem involves the eyeball itself or the condition hasn't improved after 72 hours of use of an OTC eye care product.Common Eye Problems
Eye diseases can cause damage and blindness if not treated soon enough. Learn the warning signs and symptoms of common eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, pink eye, macular degeneration and more.Eyeglasses, Sunglasses, and Magnifying Glasses
Nonprescription eyeglasses are available over the counter (OTC) and are typically used by people who can no longer read fine print. OTC trifocals are helpful for those who require multiple distances or focal lengths for near and intermediate tasks. OTC sunglasses should offer 100% protection from the sun's UVA and UVB rays. OTC magnifying glasses are useful for viewing tiny objects or fine print.Eye Conditions Quiz
What do you know about your eyes? Take this quick quiz to learn about a range of eye diseases and conditions.What Is Iritis?
Iritis is inflammation of the iris, the colored portion of the eye. Symptoms include a red, painful eye, blurry vision, and light sensitivity. Treatment usually involves cortisone eyedrops.Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis): Types, Treatment, and Symptoms
Pinkeye, also called conjunctivitis, is redness or irritation of the conjunctivae, the membranes on the inner part of the eyelids and the membranes covering the whites of the eyes. These membranes react to a wide range of bacteria, viruses, allergy-provoking agents, irritants, and toxic agents.Reye Syndrome
Reye's syndrome (RS or Reye syndrome) is a sudden, sometimes fatal, disease of the brain with degeneration of the liver. Reye syndrome is associated with giving children medications containing aspirin. Symptoms include vomiting, listlessness, irritability or combativeness, confusion, delirium, delusions, convulsions, and loss of consciousness. Treatment depends on early diagnosis and focuses on protecting the brain against irreversible damage by reducing brain swelling, reversing the metabolic injury, preventing complications in the lungs, and anticipating cardiac arrest.What Is the Difference Between A-Scan and B-Scan?
A-scan and B-scan are both types of ultrasound examinations performed for eye evaluation. A detailed eye examination tells not only about the structures of the eyes but also about any underlying health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.