Corneal Injury Causes: Protecting Your Eyes from Harm
The cornea is the transparent frontal portion of the eye. It covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. When an injury affects the cornea, it can lead to major issues with vision quality and general eye health. This condition is typically known as a scratched cornea or a corneal abrasion.
The team at our La Jolla vision care center would like to go over some of the most common causes of corneal injuries and abrasions. We'll then briefly note some tips for preventing corneal injuries and what you should do if you think you've experienced an abrasion to the corneas.
Physical Trauma to the Eyes
If you suffer a serious blow to the eye area, there's a chance that the cornea could be damaged in some way. This blow to the eye may be sustained during a physical assault, or it may occur as a result of a slip or fall, an auto accident, or a mishap while at work or school.
A Foreign Object in the Eye
When a foreign objects gets lodged in the eye, it can do a lot of damage if it's not flushed out soon enough. This goes for dust, dirt, or sand, as well as chemicals or harmful liquids of any sort.
Sports Injuries
Contact and combat sports can lead to serious injuries all over the body. Blows to the head and face and result in eye injuries, including corneal abrasion. Even non-contact sports like basketball and soccer could lead to corneal injuries due to stray elbows or other kinds of unintentional contact.
Problems with Ill-Fitting Contact Lenses
When your contact lenses don't fit right, they can be uncomfortable and affect your vision. If you continue to wear contacts that do not fir properly, they can do damage to your corneas over time.
Aggressively Rubbing Your Eyes
Rubbing your eyes a bit when they're uncomfortable is common. However, if you rub your eyes too much, you may be harming your eyes rather than providing temporary relief from irritation or itchiness. Excessive rubbing of the eyes can lead to corneal injuries and other problems.
Medical Conditions Affected the Eyes
Infections of the eye and other conditions that go untreated can have a lasting impact on the health and quality of your vision. One potential consequence is corneal abrasions and other kinds of lasting corneal damage.
Protect Your Eyes
It's always important to exercise common sense when it comes to eye safety. Whenever you're engaged in an activity that may involve injury to the face or eyes, be sure to wear protective goggles and any applicable face and head protection. Simple precautions like this can mean the different between safety and the loss of your sight.
Seek Medical Attention as Soon as Possible
If you have suffered an injury to the eye and notice any of the following symptoms, be sure to seek medical attention for your condition. These are the warning signs of a corneal injury:
- Eye pain, particularly when opening or closing the eye
- A sensation of a foreign object in the eye
- Excessive tearing of the eye
- Redness of the eye
- Increase sensitivity to light
- Blurry vision or loss of vision
- Headaches
The earlier you seek professional attention, the better your chances are of preventing permanent damage the corneas and further vision loss.
Contact an Experienced Eye Care Specialist
To learn more about keeping your eyes safe and your vision healthy for years and years to come, be sure to contact our experienced team of eye doctors and vision specialists today. We will help you experience good vision, and provide you with tips regarding eye health issues of all kinds.