How is a corneal abrasion treated?

How is a corneal abrasion treated?

If you are diagnosed with a corneal abrasion, you should avoid rubbing your eyes.

Only an eye doctor can recommend the right treatment for a corneal abrasion. Your doctor will examine the eye and remove any objects that he or she finds. Anesthetic eye drops will make this procedure more comfortable.

Most of the time, small corneal abrasions will heal in a few days. The doctor may prescribe eye drops to keep the eye lubricated and to reduce the chance of infection. It is important to use these eye drops as recommended. It might also be necessary to stop wearing contact lenses for a while. Larger corneal abrasions will take longer to heal than smaller ones.

Oral pain medicine may be prescribed for patients with extreme pain or light sensitivity until the abrasion has healed. Topical numbing medications (anesthetics) which may be given in the office to allow examination and treatment should NEVER be used at home due to the toxic effects of repeated administration of these medications.