Scratched Eye (Corneal Abrasion)

The severity of a corneal abrasion depends on the size and position of the scratch and how much it damages the cornea. Eye pain doesn’t always represent the amount of damage, so it's always best to get the eye checked by an optometrist. While the majority of scratches will heal by themselves, they do have the potential to get infected or form a scar, which can cause permanent damage to the eye and affect your vision.

As with any eye or vision problem, it is almost impossible to judge the seriousness of the abrasion yourself, so the best thing to do is to get their eyes checked by your optometrist. The optometrist may suggest monitoring, treatment or referral to eye specialists if the damage is more serious. However, most scratches will heal on their own, and the child won't normally develop long‑term sight issues.

No, we would strongly advise against wearing any makeup that goes near the eye when you're recovering from a corneal abrasion. Mascara could get into the abrasion and cause more irritation. There's also a possibility it could contain bacteria that leads to an infection. Most of the time, a corneal scratch will heal in a few days, so you can start using makeup again before long. Follow your optometrist's advice ‑ but it's best to wait at least a week before you start using eye makeup again, if not longer. 

Maybe, but it depends on what's caused the eye damage, your symptoms, and what sort of work you do. In an ideal world, you'd rest at home until you're fully recovered, but we know that's not always possible. In the first place, speak to your optometrist and contact the health and safety person at your work to discuss options. It's important to rest your eye as much as possible when you have a corneal scratch, yet many jobs require you to use your eyes a lot (whether that's looking at a screen or driving a vehicle), so it could slow down your recovery.

Yes, your body repairs damage during sleep, so it's really helpful to get as much sleep as possible when recovering from an eye scratch.

It depends on how much damage has been done to your cornea. Generally, smaller scratches take 2‑3 days to heal, while larger scratches might take longer. Interestingly, scientific research shows that the cornea has one of the fastest ways of repairing itself in the human body. 

Yes, it is always a good idea to visit an optometrist about any kind of eye damage. They can do tests to work out how much damage has been done. They can also give you specific advice on how to heal your scratched cornea.

No, not always. For some people, a corneal abrasion might just feel like they have some sand in their eye, and is simply uncomfortable. But for others, it can be very painful, causing intense, stabbing pain. The pain might also be worse when exposed to light. Even if the injury isn't especially painful, that doesn't mean it's less serious ‑ we'd always recommend getting it seen by an optometrist.