For corneal abrasions in dogs and cats, see corneal ulcer.

Corneal abrasion is a medical condition involving the loss of the surface epithelial layer of the eye's cornea. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (most commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) provides codes to classify diseases and a wide variety of signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or disease. ... The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) is a coding of diseases and signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or diseases, as classified by the World Health Organization (WHO). ... // S00-T14 - Injury (S00-S09) head (S00) Superficial injury of head (S01) Open wound of head (S02) Fracture of skull and facial bones (S03) Dislocation, sprain and strain of joints and ligaments of head (S04) Injury of cranial nerves (S05) Injury of eye and orbit (S06) Intracranial injury (S07) Crushing... The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (most commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) provides codes to classify diseases and a wide variety of signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or disease. ... The following is a list of codes for International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. ... The Disease Bold textDatabase is a free website that provides information about the relationships between medical conditions, symptoms, and medications. ... eMedicine is an online clinical medical knowledge base that was founded in 1996. ... A corneal ulcer is an inflammatory condition of the cornea involving loss of its outer layer. ... In zootomy, epithelium is a tissue composed of a layer of cells. ... The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber, providing most of an eyes optical power [1]. Together with the lens, the cornea refracts light and, as a result, helps the eye to focus. ...

Etiology

Corneal abrasions are generally a result of trauma to the surface of the eye. Common causes include jabbing a finger into an eye or walking into a tree branch. A foreign body in the eye may also cause a scratch if the eye is rubbed. Injuries can also be incurred by "hard" contact lenses that have been left in too long. Damage may result when the lenses are removed, rather than when lens is still in contact with the eye. The word Foreign means originating elsewhere or in the physiological context outside the body. ... A soft contact lens A contact lens (also known as contact, for short) is a corrective or cosmetic lens placed on the cornea of the eye atop the iris. ...

Symptoms and signs

Symptoms of corneal abrasion include pain, photophobia, a foreign-body sensation, and a reflex production of tears. Signs include epithelial defects and edema, and often conjunctival injection, swollen eyelids, and a mild anterior-chamber reaction. The vision may be blurred, both from any swelling of the cornea and the excess tears. Photophobia (also light sensitivity) or fear of light, is a symptom of excessive sensitivity to light and the aversion to sunlight or well-lit places. ... The tear system. ... This page is about the condition called edema. ...

Diagnosis

Although corneal abrasions may be seen with ophthalmoscopes, slit lamp microscopes provide higher magnification which allow for a more thorough evaluation. To aid in viewing, a fluorescein stain that fills in the corneal defect and glows with a cobalt blue-light is generally instilled first. The ophthalmoscope, invented by Hermann von Helmholtz, is an instrument used to examine the eye. ... A slit lamp microscope is a microscope used by doctors to look inside the eye. ... Fluorescein in dropper used for eye examination. ...

A careful search should be made for any foreign body, in particular looking under the eyelids. Injury following use of hammers or power-tools should aways raise the possibility of a penetrating foreign body into the eye, for which urgent ophthalmology opinion should be sought. An eyelid is a thin fold of skin and muscle that covers and protects an eye. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

Treatment

Although small abrasions may require no specific treatment, larger abrasions are typically treated for a few days with a topical antibiotic to prevent infection and a topical cycloplegic to reduce pain and improve comfort. The cycloplegic will also reduce a secondary inflammation of the iris known as an iritis. Eye pads used in "pressure patching" may also improve comfort and promote healing by preventing repeated eyelid blinking that may cause further physical distruption to the cornea, but they are generally not applied in contact lens wearers or when the abrasion is caused by vegetative material, such as a tree branch, or a finger nail. These conditions may pose the threat of a fungal infection and the warm, moist environment provided by pressure patching increases this possibility. Staphylococcus aureus - Antibiotics test plate. ... Cycloplegia is the paralysis of the ciliary muscle, resulting in a loss of accommodation. ...

Due to the introduction of newer contact lens materials, mainly silicon hydrogels, pressure patch treatment is being phased out and replaced by "bandage contact lenses". These newer materials provide much more oxygen to the cornea and can be fit tightly (providing minimal movement) with a low risk of corneal hypoxia and edema. These lenses greatly decrease the patients pain and allow the patient to administer drops.

For recurrent corneal erosions, treatment may be had with a laser surgery called phototherapeutic keratectomy. Recurrent corneal erosion is a disorder of the eyes characterized by the failure of the corneas outermost layer of epithelial cells to attach to the underlying basement membrane (Bowmans membrane). ... Phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) is a type of eye surgery that uses a laser to treat various ocular disorders by removing tissue from the cornea. ...

Complications

Complications are the exception rather than the rule from simple corneal abrasions. It is important that any foreign body is identified and removed, especially if containing iron as rusting will occur. A blacksmith removing rust with sand prior to welding Rust damage in automobiles can create hidden dangers. ...

Occasionally the healed epithelium may be poorly adherent to the underlying basement membrane in which case it may detach at intervals giving rise to recurrent corneal erosions. ... Recurrent corneal erosion is a disorder of the eyes characterized by the failure of the corneas outermost layer of epithelial cells to attach to the underlying basement membrane (Bowmans membrane). ...