Eye Injuries

Corneal Abrasion »

Corneal Abrasion Overview

A corneal abrasion is a painful scrape or scratch of the surface of the clear part of the eye. This clear tissue of the eye is known as the cornea. This transparent window covers the iris, the circular colored portion of the eye. The cornea has many nerve endings just under the surface, so that any disruption of the surface may be painful.

Corneal Abrasion Causes

• A corneal abrasion may occur when something hits your eye. For example, while hiking, if the person in front of you lets go of a tree branch, it could hit your eye, causing an abrasion to the cornea.
• A corneal injury may occur when something gets into your eye, for example, when the wind blows a dried leaf particle into your eye or when paint chips fall into your eye while you are scraping off old paint. This material may scratch the cornea.
• A foreign body, such as a piece of sand or wood, may lodge under the upper lid a...

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