{"id":1887,"date":"2023-07-12T15:58:17","date_gmt":"2023-07-12T19:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.warbyparker.com\/learn\/?p=1887"},"modified":"2026-04-02T03:12:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T07:12:37","slug":"corneal-abrasion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/corneal-abrasion","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Corneal Abrasion (Scratched Cornea)?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A corneal abrasion is a scratch or cut on the cornea\u2014the clear dome at the front of the eye covering the iris and pupil. A corneal abrasion, also known as a scratched cornea or scratched eye, is a very common eye injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having a corneal abrasion can be quite painful. And it can increase your risk of developing a more serious <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/eye-disorders-and-eye-diseases\">eye condition<\/a>. So it\u2019s important to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/appointments\/eye-exams\/booking\">see an eye care provider<\/a> right away if your eye has been scratched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guide, we\u2019ll discuss the causes and symptoms of a corneal abrasion. We\u2019ll also review&nbsp;common scratched cornea treatment options and provide some prevention tips.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scratched Cornea Symptoms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For the most part, you can\u2019t see corneal abrasions with the naked eye. But if you get a scratched cornea, you&#8217;ll probably know right away that something has happened. And sometimes, the symptoms of a corneal abrasion can get worse after some time, possibly after a few hours have passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Common signs and symptoms of a corneal abrasion include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Blurred vision<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eye pain ranging from mild to intense<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The feeling of something in your eye (foreign body sensation)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Headache<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increase of tears<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Light sensitivity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Redness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have any of these corneal abrasion symptoms or otherwise suspect you have a scratched eye, talk to It\u2019s important to see an eye care provider for diagnosis and treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div><!-- .entry-content (split for inline block) -->\n\n<section class=\"wp-blocks__banner has-img white\">\n\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/phoropter-cta.jpg\" alt=\"Vision issues?\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-blocks__banner-img\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Vision issues?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Our expert optometrists can assess the situation and provide treatment<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-blocks-banner__cta-links\" style=\"flex-wrap:wrap;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/appointments\/eye-exams\/booking\">Make an appointment <svg id=\"aa495747-7767-4ea8-bc8e-3e09f9e2a480\" data-name=\"Layer 1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 5.5 9.5\"><path d=\"M5.49,4.61a.87.87,0,0,1,0,.32.73.73,0,0,1-.2.35l-4,4A.75.75,0,0,1,.22,8.22L3.69,4.75.22,1.28A.75.75,0,0,1,1.28.22l4,4A.75.75,0,0,1,5.49,4.61Z\" style=\"fill:#1050D0;fill-rule:evenodd\"\/><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"entry-content\"><!-- (reopen for inline block) -->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Causes a Corneal Abrasion?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Corneal abrasions are caused by something hitting, poking, or getting into your eye. This can happen in all sorts of environments, from sports to work to playing with a pet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve put together some examples to show you how a corneal abrasion could occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Flying or swinging objects:<\/strong> Just about any object, especially one with a hard or sharp edge, has the potential to cause a corneal abrasion. Thrown toys, a pet\u2019s paw, a piece of paper, swinging sports equipment, or low-hanging tree branches are examples of the wide range of things that could cause a scratched eye.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Small particles or debris:<\/strong> Small particles or debris like pieces of dirt, dust, wood shavings, or metal fragments can scratch your eye. And <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/how-to-get-something-out-of-your-eye\">if a foreign body gets stuck<\/a> behind the inside of your upper eyelid, your eye could get scratched each time you blink.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Your hand or something in your hand:<\/strong> A scratched cornea can also be self-inflicted. For instance, you could scratch your eye with a makeup brush, a handheld tool, or your own fingernail (yet another reason never to rub your eyes).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dirty or damaged contacts:<\/strong> A contact lens with an edge that\u2019s rough or torn can cause a corneal abrasion. It can also occur if a piece of foreign material, like a grain of sand, gets stuck between a contact lens and the eye. Corneal abrasions can also result from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/sleeping-with-contacts\">sleeping in contacts<\/a> or wearing contacts for too long.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Chemicals:<\/strong> Certain chemicals like household cleaners\u2014and even detergents and soaps\u2014can splash into the eye and cause a corneal abrasion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Corneal Abrasion Treatment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/optometrist-vs-ophthalmologist\">optometrist or ophthalmologist<\/a> might prescribe one or more of the scratched cornea treatments and remedies below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Apply Ointment or Eye Drops<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your doctor might prescribe a topical antibiotic ointment or antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection. They may also prescribe lubricating eye drops to ease discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wear a Bandage Contact Lens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For larger corneal abrasions, a bandage contact lens may be placed on the eye to help facilitate healing and reduce sensitivity. It\u2019s important to follow up with your eye doctor and continue use of topical antibiotic drops while wearing the bandage contact lens to minimize the risk of infection. Your doctor will remove the bandage contact lens once the abrasion has fully healed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wear Sunglasses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If a corneal abrasion has caused an eye to be sensitive to sunlight, wearing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/sunglasses\">sunglasses<\/a> can help improve comfort until it resolves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Corneal Abrasion Healing Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Typically, a scratched cornea will heal by itself within 24\u201348 hours. But in serious cases, an untreated corneal abrasion could lead to an eye infection like keratitis or a corneal ulcer<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Not to Do If Your Eye Feels Scratched<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>For the safety of your eyes, it\u2019s important to take certain precautions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Do not rub your eyes:<\/strong> More scratches could occur.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Do not touch your eye with tools or swabs:<\/strong> You could further injure your eye.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Do not try to dislodge a stuck item:<\/strong> It could get stuck even more or cause the injury to worsen. Only an eye care provider should do this.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Do not use redness-reducing eye drops (or any drops not prescribed by a doctor):<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/eye-drops-for-red-eyes\">Eye drops for red eyes<\/a> won\u2019t help heal your eye and can even worsen pain. Only use eye drops as prescribed by a healthcare provider.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Do not wear contact lenses: <\/strong>Wear your glasses until the doctor says it\u2019s okay to wear your contacts again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Prevent a Scratched Eye<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking certain precautions to protect your eyes can help prevent a corneal abrasion, including the tips below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wear Protective Eyewear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Wear proper eye protection, like safety glasses or goggles, when in an environment that poses a higher risk of eye injury. Consider wearing protective eyewear while doing yard work, like pruning bushes or mowing the lawn, or when cutting wood or metal. It\u2019s a good idea to wear protective eyewear while playing sports, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use Proper Contact Lens Care<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you wear contacts, proper <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/contact-lens-care\">contact lens care<\/a> is an important part of preventing corneal abrasions. Follow your eye doctor\u2019s instructions for wearing your contacts, including the wear and replacement schedule. And be sure you know <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/how-to-clean-contacts\">how to clean your contact lenses<\/a> properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep Fingers Away From Eyes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Keeping fingers away from your eyes can go a long way in preventing your own hands from causing a scratched cornea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accidents Can Happen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if you do all you can to prevent a corneal abrasion, there\u2019s still a chance you\u2019ll experience one. If it happens, be sure to follow your eye doctor\u2019s instructions to heal the injury and avoid making it worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Corneal Abrasion FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does a Scratched Cornea Look Like?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Usually, you can\u2019t see a scratched cornea with the naked eye. But an <a href=\"\/learn\/ophthalmologist\">ophthalmologist<\/a> can see a corneal abrasion using a slit-lamp biomicroscope or a combination of fluorescein dye and blue light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can Contacts Scratch Your Eye?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes. Damaged contacts can cause a corneal abrasion. And you can scratch your eye by wearing contacts too long or sleeping in them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is it Normal to Have Blurry Vision After a Corneal Abrasion?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes. Corneal abrasions can cause blurry vision. Many times, a corneal abrasion will heal within a few days. But it could take several weeks for blurred vision to go away completely. If the blurry vision persists, see an eye care professional for an assessment and treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can a Corneal Abrasion Cause Vision Loss?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If a corneal abrasion is treated right away, the prognosis for recovery is excellent. But left untreated, corneal abrasions, particularly serious ones that become infected, could lead to vision loss.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A corneal abrasion is a scratch or cut on the cornea\u2014the clear dome at the front of the eye covering the iris and pupil. A corneal abrasion, also known as a scratched cornea or scratched eye, is a very common eye injury. Having a corneal abrasion can be quite painful. And it can increase your [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":1890,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eye-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Corneal Abrasion (Scratched Cornea) | Warby Parker<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A corneal abrasion is a scratched cornea. Learn the causes, symptoms, and what to do if you get one.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/corneal-abrasion\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Corneal Abrasion (Scratched Cornea) | Warby Parker\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A corneal abrasion is a scratched cornea. Learn the causes, symptoms, and what to do if you get one.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/corneal-abrasion\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Warby Parker\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-07-12T19:58:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-02T07:12:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/corneal-abrasion.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1166\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1166\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dr. Erica Bridges\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dr. Erica Bridges\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Corneal Abrasion (Scratched Cornea) | Warby Parker","description":"A corneal abrasion is a scratched cornea. 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