Corneal Abrasions

Dr. McMann is one of the few fellowship trained corneal surgery specialists in Hawaii.  Before moving to Hawaii in 2006, Dr. McMann had an additional year of special corneal fellowship training in corneal & refractive surgery at world renowned Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

The cornea is the clear, outer window of the eye.  A corneal abrasion is simply a scratch in the epithelium (skin), or the thin, outer layer of the cornea.  Abrasions usually heal in a short time period, sometimes within hours.  Deeper or larger scratches may take up to a week.  The cornea has a tremendous number of nerve endings, which makes any damage to the cornea very painful.

A Corneal Abrasion is simply a scratch in
the outer layer of the cornea

Symptoms of corneal abrasions:

• History of a recent eye trauma

• Watery eyes

• Acute pain

• Sensitivity to light

• Blurry vision

• The feeling that there's something in your eye

• Twitching eyelid

Causes of corneal abrasions:

• Foreign body in the eye

• Contact lenses

• Chemicals

• Blow to the eye

• Scratched eye (fingernails, hairbrushes, tree branches, etc).

Diagnosing Corneal Abrasions:

Dr. McMann can identify corneal abrasions by examining your eyes with magnifying instruments.  Dr. McMann will check your eye, including under your eyelid, to make sure there are no foreign materials present. Depending on the initial exam, fluorescein dye may be used to help locate and identify the corneal abrasions. A test called the Seidel test (painting the wound with dye and observing for leakage) may be performed to uncover possible deeper injuries.

Treating Corneal Abrasions:

Dr. McMann may apply a topical anesthesia to help relieve the pain.  Usually, a bandage contact lens will be placed over the eye and if the abrasion is small,  and the epithelium should heal overnight.  If the abrasion is large, it may take a few days and Dr. McMann may prescribe antibiotics to help prevent infections.  It is important that you do not rub your eye, especially during the healing process. 

McMann Eye Institute
“A Lifetime Commitment to Your Vision Health with the Spirit of Aloha”