A scratched cornea can feel alarming, especially when every blink sends a sharp reminder that something is not right. When you need urgent care, emergency eye care can quickly assess your injury and provide appropriate treatment.
Yes, minor corneal scratches can heal on their own within 24 to 72 hours, but deeper scratches or those with complications require professional care to prevent permanent vision damage.
What Happens When You Scratch Your Cornea
Your cornea is the clear, dome-shaped surface that covers the front of your eye. Think of it like a window that lets light into your eye. When that window gets scratched, it affects how clearly you can see. These scratches, called corneal abrasions, happen more often than you might think.
Common ways you can scratch your cornea include:
- Foreign objects in the eye, like dust, sand, or metal particles
- Fingernail scratches during face washing or eye rubbing
- Contact lens damage from torn lenses or improper insertion
- Accidental scratches from fingers, toys, or objects during play or sports
- Rubbing your eyes too hard when they are irritated
- Chemical exposure from cleaning products or makeup
Signs Your Cornea Might Be Scratched
A scratched cornea does not stay quiet. It sends clear signals that something is wrong. Your eye has thousands of nerve endings, which is why even tiny scratches can create significant discomfort. You will typically notice symptoms immediately after the injury, though sometimes they develop over a few hours.
Watch for these common symptoms:
- Sharp pain in your eye that gets worse when you blink
- Feeling like something is stuck in your eye, even when nothing is there
- Tearing or watery discharge that will not stop
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurred vision
- Red or bloodshot appearance around the affected area
- Headaches focused around the affected eye
These symptoms can sometimes overlap with dry eye, making professional evaluation necessary for accurate diagnosis.
How Your Cornea Heals Naturally
Your cornea has remarkable healing abilities. The cells on the surface can regenerate quickly, similar to how your skin heals after a small cut. This natural repair process works well for minor scratches, but the timeline and success depend on several factors.
Small, superficial scratches typically heal within 24 to 48 hours. During this time, your eye produces extra tears to flush out any debris and keep the area moist for healing. You might notice the discomfort gradually decreasing each day as new cells grow over the damaged area.
This healing occurs in layers, starting at the edges of the scratch and working inward. Your vision should return to normal as the surface smooths out again.
However, not every corneal scratch heals at the same rate. Several factors influence how quickly your eye recovers:
- Size and depth of the scratch, as deeper injuries take longer to heal
- Location on the cornea
- Your overall eye health and tear production
- Age and general health status affecting your body’s healing abilities
We recommend all eye injuries get assessed to rule out any complications or underlying damage that might not be immediately visible.
When Do You Need Professional Eye Care?
While minor scratches can heal on their own, some situations need immediate attention from an eye care professional. The risk of complications like infection or permanent scarring increases when you delay appropriate treatment for serious injuries.
These symptoms mean you should seek professional help right away:
- Vision changes that do not improve after a few hours
- Severe pain that gets worse instead of getting better
- Signs of infection, like thick discharge or increasing redness
- A foreign object still visible in your eye
- Chemical exposure to the eye, especially alkaline substances
An optometrist can determine the exact size, depth, and location of your corneal scratch using special dyes and magnification. This examination helps identify whether the scratch can heal safely on its own or needs treatment to prevent complications.
The doctor can also check for foreign particles you might have missed and rule out other injuries that could affect your recovery. Comprehensive eye exams include detailed evaluations that can detect even subtle damage to your corneal surface.
Safe Ways to Care for a Scratched Cornea
Proper home care can help your cornea heal faster and more comfortably. The key is to support your eye’s natural healing process while avoiding actions that could worsen the injury.
These steps help create the right environment for healing:
- Blink frequently to keep your eyes moist and help flush debris
- Use preservative-free artificial tears to maintain moisture
- Avoid rubbing or touching your eye, even when it itches
- Gently rinse your eye with cool, clean water
- Wear sunglasses to reduce light sensitivity and protect from wind
- Remove contact lenses immediately and do not wear them until healed
Avoid These Common Mistakes
Some well-meaning actions can actually slow healing or create additional damage:
- Do not try to remove objects stuck in your eye as this can create deeper scratches
- Do not use regular eye drops with preservatives that can irritate the healing tissue
- Do not patch your eye unless specifically instructed by a doctor
- Do not ignore worsening symptoms or assume they will resolve on their own
Learning about eye safety practices can help prevent future injuries and protect your vision over the long term.
Contact Us for Emergency Eye Care
If you experience a corneal scratch, do not wait to see if it worsens. Our team at Broadway Eyecare in Saskatoon provides comprehensive emergency eye care services and can quickly assess whether your injury needs professional treatment.
Contact us immediately in case of an emergency to protect your vision and get the care you need.
