Highlights & Basics
- Corneal abrasions usually have a sudden onset. Typical symptoms include a foreign body sensation (even if none present), photophobia, excessive tearing, blepharospasm, and blurry vision.
- Treatment involves adequate analgesia and topical antibiotics. Contact lens wearers are at increased risk of Pseudomonas infection.
- Patching does not speed up healing or offer pain relief.
- Most abrasions heal within 1 or 2 days and have very few sequelae.
- Larger defects, or those associated with contact lens use, should have ophthalmologic follow-up in 1-2 days to ensure healing.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
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Citations
American Academy of Ophthalmology. Cornea/external disease summary benchmarks - 2024. Dec 2024 [internet publication].[Full Text]
Algarni AM, Guyatt GH, Turner A, et al. Antibiotic prophylaxis for corneal abrasion. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 May 27;5(5):CD014617.[Abstract][Full Text]
Watson SL, Leung V. Interventions for recurrent corneal erosions. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Jul 9;(7):CD001861.[Abstract][Full Text]
Lim CH, Turner A, Lim BX. Patching for corneal abrasion. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Jul 26;(7):CD004764.[Abstract][Full Text]
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