What to do if I scratch my eye
If you’re in the unfortunate situation of scratching your eye, seek medical attention quickly. Treatment will differ depending on which layer of your eye was scratched and can be diagnosed by an eye care specialist. If your cornea is scratched and goes untreated it can become a serious inflammation or infection called a cornea ulcer, which can result in permanent scarring of the tissues and loss of vision.
Eye scratches can be caused by particles such as saw dust or ash, unwashed hands being used to put in contacts, playing with pencils/pens, wearing your contacts for too long, etc. A scratch on your eye will feel different depending on whether it’s a superficial scratch, or your cornea was scratched. If it’s a superficial scratch, you may feel:
- Eye pain
- The feeling that there’s sand or grit in your eyes
- Teary, red eyes
If you’ve scratched your cornea your symptoms may be more severe:
- Blurry vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Headache
While you're waiting to receive medical attention, follow these do’s and don'ts to prevent the injury from getting worse:
Do:
- If wearing contacts, remove them immediately to prevent infection
- Rinse your scratched eye with saline solution, an ophthalmic solution eye wash, or over-the-counter artificial eye drops
- Blink frequently
- Wear sunglasses
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Don’t:
- Avoid rubbing your eyes – we recommend not rubbing your eyes no matter the occasion, but especially in the case of a scratched eye
- Avoid trying to remove the foreign particle
- Don’t wear your contact lenses, opt for your glasses
Though an eye scratch is extremely painful and unlikely to be an experience you forgot, there's good news: Eyes often heal very quickly. A minor scratch should heal in one to three days, and a more severe abrasion will take a bit longer. While your eye heals refrain from rubbing it or wearing contacts (opt for your stylish backup glasses), and wear sunglasses outside to ease any discomfort caused by sunlight.
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