Corneal Abrasions: Scratches on Your Eyes
Have you ever had that feeling that there was something scratchy in your eye that you couldn't get out? It may have been a corneal abrasion.
A corneal abrasion is a cut or scratch to the cornea, the clear cover on the front of your eye that covers the iris (the colored part) and helps it to focus light. While they can be painful, they are quite common, and minor ones heal with little consequence to your vision. However, some corneal abrasions can be serious and threaten your eyesight, so it is important to educate yourself about these eyesight ailments.
How do they happen? Essentially anything that touches your eye could cause a corneal abrasion. They are especially prevalent with contact lens wearers. Contacts that are over worn, improperly fitting, or improperly cleaned can be the culprit for abrasions. Say you walk into a branch - there could be wood, plant, or even bug debris that gets stuck in your eye and scratch your corneas. Outside on a windy day? Fast moving dirt and dust particles can get lodged under your eyelid and rub against your eyes. Even rubbing your eyes too hard can cause abrasions, especially if your fingernails touch the eye surface.
Prevention: Protect yourself from these bothersome abrasions. Be sure to wear goggles if you are working with machinery that causes particles to fill the air. Keep your nails neat, and contact lens wearers - keep them clean and remove them before you sleep!
If you are hit in your eye(s), or if you get something in them - pay attention to them for the next couple days. Sometimes irritation doesn't hit you right away. You may notice a sensation as if there is something in your eye that you cannot rinse out, tearing, blurred vision, or spasms causing you to squint.
Contact your eye doctor if you have eye pain or sudden increase in blurred vision - even if you have not knowingly had an accident with your eyes.
A corneal abrasion is a cut or scratch to the cornea, the clear cover on the front of your eye that covers the iris (the colored part) and helps it to focus light. While they can be painful, they are quite common, and minor ones heal with little consequence to your vision. However, some corneal abrasions can be serious and threaten your eyesight, so it is important to educate yourself about these eyesight ailments.
How do they happen? Essentially anything that touches your eye could cause a corneal abrasion. They are especially prevalent with contact lens wearers. Contacts that are over worn, improperly fitting, or improperly cleaned can be the culprit for abrasions. Say you walk into a branch - there could be wood, plant, or even bug debris that gets stuck in your eye and scratch your corneas. Outside on a windy day? Fast moving dirt and dust particles can get lodged under your eyelid and rub against your eyes. Even rubbing your eyes too hard can cause abrasions, especially if your fingernails touch the eye surface.
Prevention: Protect yourself from these bothersome abrasions. Be sure to wear goggles if you are working with machinery that causes particles to fill the air. Keep your nails neat, and contact lens wearers - keep them clean and remove them before you sleep!
If you are hit in your eye(s), or if you get something in them - pay attention to them for the next couple days. Sometimes irritation doesn't hit you right away. You may notice a sensation as if there is something in your eye that you cannot rinse out, tearing, blurred vision, or spasms causing you to squint.
Contact your eye doctor if you have eye pain or sudden increase in blurred vision - even if you have not knowingly had an accident with your eyes.
For more information on eyeglasses and vision please visit our website: Simon Eye Associates
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Charles_Simon
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