Restoring vision after corneal injury. What to do if the cornea of ​​the eye is damaged Treatment of a damaged cornea of ​​the eye

The eyes are considered the most unprotected organ; damage to the cornea occurs quite often. Traumatic lesions are considered the most common causes of loss of visual function and disability. The cornea has a reduced pain threshold, so the patient may have no sensation.

Foreign objects are quickly removed from the eye, resulting in rapid tissue healing. In some cases, injury to the cornea can lead to complications in the form of ulcerations and other diseases.

Causes

Acute corneal injuries occur due to breakage or failure of protective masks or glasses. The fragments fly in different directions, resulting in injuries to the tissues of the face and eyes. Injuries also occur when a blunt object hits the eye; such phenomena are often observed when playing sports (statistics differ in different countries). Particular care should be taken when playing football, basketball, volleyball, and hockey.

Causes of injuries:

1. Prolonged work at the computer, reading books in poor lighting conditions leads to dryness of the eye, dryness occurs against the background of injury;
2. Exposure to radiation on the eyes;
3. Congenital pathologies of visual function;
4. Active lifestyle, long walks outside.

Children's age is also considered a risk factor; without adult supervision, they can cause great damage to their own health.

Symptoms

The cornea of ​​the eye is highly sensitive; even a slight damage can lead to severe discomfort.

The pathology is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Increased photosensitivity;
• Visual impairment;
• Sensation of sand in the eyes;
• Corneal epithelial defect;
• Vasodilation, redness of the eyes and periocular tissues.

Despite the type of corneal damage, the symptoms do not differ; sometimes there may be no headache. Sometimes the pathology is accompanied by symptoms of an allergic reaction or a cold. Due to the excellent blood supply, the regeneration process takes little time. The damage heals with corneal ulcers and other types of deformations that occur as a result of injuries. Infection can lead to tissue ulceration.

First aid, treatment

Corneal injuries are common among children and people whose profession is associated with a high risk of eye injury. Parents must be vigilant; compliance with safety regulations is considered primary prevention. If it was not possible to prevent injury, properly provided emergency care will help minimize the risk of complications. First of all, whenever possible, the severity of the problem should be established and the cause of its occurrence should be identified.

If you suspect the presence of a foreign object, you should try to remove it yourself; it is recommended to use clean water, cotton swabs or a handkerchief to wash your eyes. When removing crumbled objects, care must be taken; anti-inflammatory drugs should be instilled into the eyes; tetracycline ointment is prescribed when treating the lower eyelid. In case of primary necrosis, the affected area must be washed, and antibacterial treatment is also carried out.

In acute inflammatory
During the therapy process, detoxification and anti-inflammatory drugs, antioxidants, and multivitamins are used. For trophic disorders and vascularization pathologies, antihypoxic therapy is prescribed, and anti-inflammatory drugs are indicated.

The incised wound must be covered with a clean bandage, the other eye must be immobilized, which will help prevent simultaneous movements of the eyeballs. After this, the patient should be taken to the medical department as quickly as possible. After injury to the cornea with a blunt object, it is recommended to apply bandages pre-moistened in cool water.

A chemical burn should be washed with water, after which the substance that caused the damage is neutralized. Self-removal of metal and other particles from the eye is strictly prohibited. The duration of the recovery period and therapy depends on the nature and severity of the lesion. If a foreign object gets in, and if inflammatory processes develop, taking anesthetics is indicated. The use of ointments will ensure rapid restoration of damage to the membrane. In severe cases, surgery and postoperative treatment are required; the use of antibacterial agents will help prevent complications. The duration of the recovery period is 1-2 weeks, provided that you seek medical help in a timely manner.

Contraindications, what is prohibited to do

Unnecessary actions when injuring the cornea of ​​the eye can lead to aggravation of the situation, and even greater damage can be caused to the eye.

Actions prohibited in case of injury to the cornea of ​​the eye:

1. Touching eyelids with hands;
2. Using dirty bandages;
3. Attempts to independently remove a foreign body that has entered the eye;
4. Elimination of blood clots, since they can accidentally remove the fallen membranes;
5. Use of alcohol tinctures - their use can lead to additional chemical damage;
6. Ignoring the problem.

Even a minor injury to the cornea can lead to complications; patients with weakened immune systems and metabolic disorders are at risk. The consequences of injury can be quite serious; the patient faces complete irreversible loss of visual function. Such complications are often observed against the background of penetrating wounds, as well as due to chemical burns of the cornea. Seeking medical help will help you avoid negative consequences.

Against the background of deep burns, secondary glaucoma often occurs; this category includes a group of diseases that arise as a result of the outflow of intraocular fluid. After injury, rough scars, corneal swelling, clouding of the vitreous, pupil displacement, and increased intraocular pressure may also appear on the cornea.

There is a risk of traumatic cataracts, accompanied by clouding of the lens and deterioration of visual function. Resorption of cataracts can cause aphakia, in which the lens is missing from the eye.

Severe consequences are quite rare; timely medical care plays an important role. If the processing rules are violated, the following consequences may occur:

• Sepsis - this condition occurs due to the penetration of infections into the circulatory system and toxicity of the body;
• Complete loss of the eyeball;
• Persistent decrease in visual function;
• Brain abscess - accompanied by an accumulation of purulent fluid in the skull;
• Scarring of tissue;
• Sympathetic inflammation - accompanied by damage to the second eyeball;
• Fibroplastic iridocyclitis;
• Endophthalmitis;
• Panophthalmitis;
• Deformation of facial tissues;
• Pathologies of the lacrimal apparatus.

How to avoid making the problem worse

When the cornea is injured, it is first necessary to eliminate the cause of the disease; therapy should be aimed at restoring tissue and stimulating regeneration. As an additional remedy, medications are used whose action is aimed at preventing infection, since the eyeball is characterized by increased sensitivity and susceptibility to external factors.

can lead to aggravation of eye diseases; after recovery, regular medical examinations are required. The greatest danger after injury is an ulcer; it can occur at the site of a wound or even a scratch. This phenomenon is accompanied by pain, so it is recommended to contact an ophthalmologist as quickly as possible.

Corneal ulcers have an infectious and non-infectious nature. In the early stages, the ulcer may not appear; its presence is indicated by a decrease in visual function. Lack of therapy can provoke a worsening of the situation, resulting in final blindness, as the pathological process constantly progresses. The cornea affected by an ulcer does not provide the necessary protection against pathogens, as a result, the risk of infection of the deep structures of the eye tissue increases.

Where can I go if I have a corneal injury?

If you receive an eye injury, it is recommended to go to a specialized emergency room, which operates in all large cities. An alternative could be a public or private clinic. If you are unable to go to the doctor yourself, it is recommended to call an ambulance. When visiting a clinic, it is recommended to have a compulsory health insurance policy and passport with you.

Preventive measures

Prevention is aimed at following safety rules; it is recommended to use household chemicals with caution and carefully handle surrounding objects. Safety rules must be observed in schools, labor classes, workshops, chemical laboratories, etc. Eye injuries are the most common injury among children, so parents should pay increased attention to this issue.

The causes of damage may be:

• dry eyes (working at a computer for a long time, in the dark or in unfavorable conditions);
• radioactive, UV radiation;
• congenital disorders;
• metabolic disorders leading to changes in humidity levels;
• various infections, especially viral ones, because even ordinary conjunctivitis carries the threat of complications;
• eye injuries (the smallest dust or speck injures the mucous membrane, impairs vision, leads to various inflammatory processes), even a simple blow to the eye area can lead to irreversible changes in the cornea.

Corneal injury may be minor, but can even lead to retinal detachment. Everything depends on qualified assistance from specialists and timely treatment. Hemorrhage, lens displacement, and other complications - all this can cause problems. Therefore, any consequences may turn out to be more significant than the injury itself at first glance.

With combined trauma, damage is possible not only to the retina, but also to the lens, vitreous body, and blood vessels. An accurate diagnosis can be made using X-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography, and examination by an ophthalmologist.

Mild forms are treated on an outpatient basis, but complex injuries to the cornea of ​​the eye require inpatient treatment and even surgery is possible.

Types of damage

Damage may be as follows:

• injuries;
• corneal burns;
• foreign bodies.

Depending on the complexity of the problem, only an ophthalmologist can prescribe a solution to provide assistance. In each case, a specific list of medications is prescribed and certain manipulations are performed.

If there is inflammation of the cornea of ​​the eye, only a specialist can prescribe treatment. For example, he may suggest instilling anesthetics into the eye to relieve pain in case of damage, agents such as lidocaine and dicaine will help remove the foreign body without problems, and solcoseryl gel and Actovegin are used for healing. Since the cornea is composed of collagen fibers and epithelium, it is very important to restore tissue integrity.

When there is a penetrating factor, surgery may be performed. In this case, antibiotic therapy must be included to avoid complications.

If various objects get inside, they must be removed in a clinical setting and treatment must be carried out, which includes restoring the surface of the cornea and preventing infections. A whole range of measures aimed at improving the condition can be proposed. Only a doctor can prescribe such treatment.

On average, the epithelium can recover in 5-15 days, depending on the severity of the lesion, so everything depends on the quality of treatment. Do not delay your visit to the doctor, pay attention to the symptoms in time. This will help quickly restore vision and avoid complications.

https://youtu.be/b9Tc17jfcQw

An untreated disease can lead to ulcers and other problems, including loss of vision.

Complex eye diseases are treated in the microsurgery center, where experienced specialists decide exactly how the epithelium will be restored.

Burn injuries to the cornea are no less dangerous than trauma. They can lead to inflammation of all structures of the eye: conjunctiva, sclera, blood vessels, etc. This is fraught with severe complications and unfavorable outcomes, despite intensive treatment.

Burns can be thermal, chemical (acid and alkaline), radiation (damage from ultraviolet, infrared radiation, laser, etc.). Thermal injuries often affect not only the eye, but also the skin around it. Chemical ones are mainly local in nature. Acidic agents cause tissue necrosis, which prevents the acid from penetrating into the deeper layers of the eye. Alkaline ones, on the contrary, quickly penetrate deep into the eye tissues and destroy the internal structures.

The severity of the burn depends on the extent and depth of the injury. Depending on these parameters, there are 4 burn degrees:

• 1st degree. Symptoms: redness and swelling of the eyelids and conjunctiva, mild clouding and erosion of the cornea.
• 2nd degree. Blisters on the skin of the eyelids, swelling of the conjunctiva and the formation of a white film on it, erosion and clouding of the cornea.
• 3rd degree. Necrosis of the skin of the eyelids, conjunctiva; deep opacification of the cornea, complete loss of its transparency, infiltration and necrosis.
• 4th degree. Necrosis or charring of skin, muscles, cartilage, necrosis of the sclera and conjunctiva, deep opacification and drying of the cornea.

Burns of 1st and 2nd degrees are considered mild, 3rd – moderate, 4th – severe. Treatment in each case depends on how severe the symptoms of inflammation are.

Burn injury is dangerous due to the formation of a cataract (white opaque spot) and the development of secondary glaucoma. In severe cases, traumatic cataracts often develop and the retina and choroid are affected.

Inpatient treatment depends on the degree of inflammation:

• Primary necrosis. Rinsing the damaged area, antibacterial therapy.
• Acute inflammation. Stimulation of metabolism and blood circulation in tissues; vitamin therapy; detoxification; the use of antioxidants, decongestants, anti-inflammatory and other agents.
• Severe trophic disorders and vascularization. Antihypoxic and restorative therapy; reduction of pain syndrome,
• Scarring and late complications. Resorption therapy, desensitization, glucocorticosteroids.

Severe complications of burns are eliminated surgically. This can be keratoplasty and keratoprosthesis.

Wound

With minor injuries, the eye shell is not damaged. However, there is the possibility of causing quite serious wounds, which are accompanied by an outpouring of moisture from the anterior chamber, and sometimes dislocation of the lens.

On our site there is a separate article about scratches of the cornea of ​​the eye, and the text below is devoted to more serious damage.

When the cornea is injured, the following negative consequences may occur:

• lens luxation;
• development of cataracts;
• the appearance of glaucoma;
• retinal detachment;
• endophthalmitis is an inflammatory process that can lead to decreased vision or its complete loss;
• panophthalmitis is a purulent inflammatory process, the progression of which can lead to the loss of an eye;
• hemophthalmos is a disease of the eye organ in which blood vessels rupture and blood enters the glass body.

There are several types of burn injuries:

• thermal (occurs when tissue is heated);
• chemical (when exposed to substances such as acid, alkali);
• burns resulting from contact with radiation (ultraviolet, laser, infrared).

The negative consequences of burns include the following:

• formation of an opaque spot;
• development of glaucoma;
• cataract;
• retinal damage;
• damage to the choroid (choroid of the eye).

Eye burns are divided into several degrees. The mildest are 1st and 2nd degree burns.

1. Symptoms of 1st degree burns are: redness and swelling of the eyelids, slight clouding of the cornea and its erosion.
2. Second degree burns are characterized by swelling of the conjunctiva, the appearance of blisters on the eyelids, clouding of the cornea and erosion.
3. 3rd degree burns are considered moderate. Necrosis of the conjunctiva and skin of the eyelids is diagnosed, clouding of the cornea, necrosis (an irreversible process of cell death) appears.
4. Grade 4 (severe) is characterized by necrosis of the skin of the eyelids, muscles, cartilage, necrosis, and drying of the cornea.

Other reasons

Entry of a foreign object. With direct contact of the cornea with the outside world, damage is possible due to foreign objects entering the cornea (for example, small particles of dust, metal shavings, wood chips). The damage can be superficial or deep.

Dry eyes can also cause damage to the cornea.

Symptoms of damage and first aid

Main symptoms of damage:

• increased lacrimation;
• eye sensitivity;
• redness of the eyes;
• blur;
• feeling of sand in the eyes;
• headache.

Sometimes there are no specialists nearby, so it is necessary to provide first aid to the victim. It consists of assessing the lesion and various ways to improve the condition of the victim.

If sand or dust gets in, you can rinse your eye with water or blink so that the cornea is washed with tears. This will slightly improve the condition of the epithelium. If you have a first aid kit with you, you can drip a solution of sodium sulfacyl or another anti-inflammatory drug. Place tetracycline ointment behind the lower eyelid.

If a foreign particle gets in, you can slightly pull the eyelid and try to remove it yourself by closing the eyelids or moving the eyeball from side to side.

You should not try to pull the particle out with your hands; it may break. Do not rub your eyelids, and under no circumstances should you touch the cornea with cotton wool or other objects.

It is necessary to visit a doctor, because even a small particle can cause severe pain and cause inflammation of the cornea and, as a result, deterioration of vision.

Symptoms of damage are:

• severe lacrimation;
• feeling of heaviness in the eyes, discomfort;
• the appearance of pain;
• redness of the eyes;
• a veil before the eyes;
• headache (occasionally);
• spots may appear on the cornea.

Treatment for damage to the cornea of ​​the eye

If the eye organ is injured, primary first aid should be provided. To do this, you need to apply antibacterial eye drops. In a hospital setting, primary wound treatment will already be carried out. As a rule, medications that have a healing effect are prescribed for treatment.

Help with burns

If damage to the cornea occurs as a result of a burn, then the following primary measures must be taken:

• rinse eyes generously using clean water;
• try to eliminate the substance that caused the burn upon contact;
• use antibacterial eye medications.

Treatment by a doctor will depend on the severity of the burn:

1. if the victim has primary necrosis, then rinsing and the use of antibacterial agents will be used for treatment;
2. in case of acute inflammation, work will be carried out to stimulate blood circulation, use vitamins, anti-inflammatory and other drugs;
3. in case of complications, it is possible to use resorption therapy, the use of glucocorticosteroids (substances that inhibit the inflammatory process in the body);
4. in case of severe complications, surgical intervention is possible (for example, keratoplasty - surgery on the cornea performed to restore it).

Help with foreign body penetration

When the damage is associated with the entry of a foreign object, then first you should try to remove the foreign object (in case of superficial damage).

Removal of objects that have fallen deep is best done in a hospital setting. Because only a specialist will be able to determine the degree of damage to the cornea and determine the method of treatment (after all, situations of surgical intervention are not excluded).

After removing a foreign object from the eye, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.

Shallow injuries are treated on an outpatient basis by instilling local anesthetics (lidocaine, dicaine), applying healing ointments (eye gels Actovegin and Solcoseryl) and antibiotic ointments, using drops based on natural tears and hyaluronic acid. The defect quickly epithelializes without complications.

Foreign bodies in the superficial layers are removed with a cotton swab; those lying deeper are either removed with special tools or left indefinitely. The latter option is suitable for chemically neutral bodies (plastic, glass), over time they move to the surface layers and are easily removed.

Serious complex corneal injuries in the form of penetrating wounds are treated by eye microsurgery in a specialized ophthalmology department. In parallel, antibiotic therapy, systemic treatment with enzymes, and local healing therapy (drops) are carried out.

Burns are treated by microsurgery (excision of damaged tissue), the use of healing, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and enzyme therapy.

If a patient is diagnosed with damage to the cornea of ​​the eye, treatment should be aimed at removing the damaging factor, restoring tissue integrity and stimulating further regeneration, as well as preventing infections.

Risk groups, prevention

Most often, corneal damage occurs in children, since children play with sand and various objects. If parents do not notice the inflammation in time and do not take the solution to the problem seriously, then vision deterioration may subsequently occur.

For such work, you should not neglect protective equipment, such as plastic goggles and special protective masks.

Even during various trips, traveling or at sports competitions, you can easily get inflammation of the mucous membrane due to the ingress of small particles of dust or any chemicals, so do not forget about the symptoms of damage.

Don’t forget to replenish your first aid kit with special preventive means, this will help you quickly provide first aid.

But recently, signs of corneal inflammation have also appeared in people whose work, it would seem, is not associated with traumatic factors, these are those who work a lot at the computer. The fact is that with constant eye strain, a person blinks less often, the mucous membrane dries out more and unpleasant redness appears.

Losing vision is easy, but restoring it is quite difficult, so a lot depends on the person himself.

https://youtu.be/br4IcSCBpNs

Taking good care of your eyes, preventing diseases and following safety precautions at work will help you visit doctors as little as possible.

Risk groups, prevention

Despite the fact that no person is insured against such damage, it is possible to identify categories of people who are at risk of receiving such damage. These groups include:

1. Children, because most of their time they come into contact with various small objects (for example, playing in the sand can damage their eyes by getting sand grains on the cornea). Of course, it will be difficult to forbid a child to play (since this is partly how a child learns about the world). Therefore, to avoid possible complications, parents should closely monitor their child’s condition.
2. People whose work involves the possibility of getting burns or bringing small particles into the eyes (for example, working in factories, in furniture production workshops). To avoid injury, you should use all kinds of protective equipment (masks, goggles).
3. People whose work involves computers. When spending a long time in front of a monitor, a person’s eyes are under constant tension (so the person blinks less often), which leads to drying of the mucous membrane and its redness. In such cases, it is best to use eye drops that help moisturize the eye.

The membrane of the eye, the transparent layer of the eyeball, is designed to protect the eye from the effects of various injuries found in nature. Any injury to the cornea is dangerous due to its unfavorable prognosis, because the organ of vision is important at any age and disruption of its normal functioning leads to discomfort, disability and deterioration in the patient’s quality of life.

Causes

Damage to the cornea of ​​the eye has characteristic causes associated with human activities, injuries, everyday life, and chronic diseases:

• when working on a PC or reading in poor lighting, the eye becomes dry, and dryness causes injury;
• exposure to ultraviolet rays and radioactive elements on the organ of vision, their exposure to sunlight;
• congenital vision pathologies;
• injuries caused by foreign bodies.

Due to their busy and active way of life, and long walks on the street, children often fall into the traumatic category.

The cause of injury can be a blow of wind bringing:

• grains of sand
• fragments;
• dust;
• fine debris.

The personal carelessness of the child plays an important role. In case of mechanical impact on the eye, in order to avoid deep penetration of foreign particles and damage to the membrane, you should consult an ophthalmologist. It won't take much time, because... An experienced doctor will quickly detect and remove the source of the lesion.

This category also includes adults with construction professions. The materials used in the work may damage the cornea due to penetration. To avoid work-related injuries, it is necessary to use safety glasses. They are also necessary to protect the eyes from the sun, which contributes to a damaging effect on the cornea of ​​the eye.

The shell of the eye, due to its anatomical structure, takes the brunt of traumatic factors. Fortunately, many corneal injuries are characterized by superficial, shallow lesions. This injury does not harm the organ, which, due to intensive blood supply, copes with the damage on its own in a short time.

Kinds

Based on the factors that led to the injury, the following types of damage are distinguished:

• mechanical, occurs when small foreign objects - dust, shavings - are exposed to or enter the eye, as well as when using incorrectly selected contact lenses;
• chemical burn occurs when an organ interacts with abrasive chemicals, this can be acid, alkali, household chemicals;
• thermal burn occurs when the organ is exposed to high temperatures.
• laser or ionizing damage.

Symptoms

Injuries to the corneas of the eye are combined with symptoms:

• discomfort;
• feeling of “sand”;
• acute pain and burning with large-scale lesions;

In this case, visual acuity is noticeably reduced, the picture becomes blurry, and there are no contours. The level of visual impairment depends on the area of ​​the lesion. There is profuse lacrimation, intensified by the movement of a foreign object. In some episodes, the victim complains of a headache.

Commonly encountered signs include:

• profuse lacrimation;
• unusual eye sensitivity;
• burning;
• blurred image.

Emergency help

Eye injury can occur at different ages. The method of providing first aid to a patient does not depend on the number of years. It should include coherence, urgency in carrying out actions, competence of an eyewitness to the incident and his composure. To be ready to help in an emergency, you need to know the following rules of assistance:

• Active blinking can remove debris from tears. If there is no pain when lightly pressing on the eyelid, it is necessary to perform several movements towards the inner edge;
• rinse the injured eye with an antibacterial drug;
• move back the upper eyelid and cover the lower one, the eyelashes will help pull out the particle;
• move the eyeballs left and right;
• apply anti-inflammatory drops or ointment.

These measures are effective in treating shallow corneal lesions. In case of any episodes of injury, the injured eye is covered with a sterile napkin and fixed.

What not to do:

• rub your eyelids;
• use non-sterile devices;
• touch the eye with fibrous tissue or a cotton swab;
• independently remove a foreign object that has sharp edges or a massive body embedded in the eye.

Treatment

Treatment in a medical facility begins with a conversation with a doctor who needs to find out how the injury occurred. In case of damage, drops with a healing effect are prescribed. Lidocaine is used for pain relief. For rapid fusion, specially designed gels are also used. For burns, treatment is similar to conventional techniques used for mechanical damage to the eye.

The doctor’s main goal during treatment is to do everything possible to regenerate or fusion of tissue on the surface of the cornea.

Consequences

Visual impairment is a serious problem that can lead to:

• retinal detachment, which is suspended during surgery;
• hemorrhage;
• displacement of the lens;
• complete or partial loss of vision.

Some injuries are much milder than their consequences. In case of injury, it is important to immediately seek the help of an ophthalmologist who, using knowledge and experience, will establish a diagnosis, prescribe treatment and carry out the necessary manipulations at the initial stage.

It is important to follow all the specialist’s instructions, because... untreated injury can lead to the formation of ulcers, which are dangerous for vision due to their consequences. Complex injuries are treated in eye microsurgery centers, where methods for restoring the integrity of eye tissues and structures are selected individually by specialists.

Damage to the cornea of ​​the eye is a fairly common injury. It is easy to remove a foreign body from the cornea, and the wound will heal quickly. However, after an injury, ulcers or other diseases may appear.

Causes and symptoms of damage to the cornea of ​​the eye

The cornea protects the pupil. If it is damaged, the integrity of the outer transparent layer that covers the eyeball is compromised. The causes of various diseases are mainly hidden in scratches and cuts of the cornea.

This area has a low pain threshold, so a person does not always feel discomfort when the eye is injured. Often a scratch is accompanied by pain or a feeling of sand in the eyes. The wound site may be sore.

When a corneal injury occurs, the following symptoms are present:

• redness;
• tearfulness;
• blurred vision of objects;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• photophobia;
• headache;
• scratching, cutting pain in the eye;
• feeling of a speck under the eyelid;
• swelling of the eyelids

When the eye is injured in the center, visual acuity may be impaired, and then a lack of coordination of movements appears.

It is worth noting that such damage may be accompanied by headaches and even allergy/cold symptoms. But as soon as the wound heals, all the discomfort will go away.

The eye can be injured by garbage, household mixtures, and various chemicals. This often happens to people who work with wood. Children can get injured playing in the sandbox. You can get hurt by shavings, paper, even dust and dirt.

Moreover, any injury can become complicated. If a person suffers from a metabolic disorder or has a weak immune system, the consequences of the injury will be more severe.

The cornea has many small blood vessels, which is why it heals quickly. But if an infection gets into the wound, an ulcer occurs.

The causes of erosion are most often hidden in banal injuries to fingers, nails, and scarves. This is also common among people who wear contact lenses.

Damage to the cornea and ulcer: features, symptoms and treatment

Of all corneal pathologies, an ulcer is the most dangerous. It forms at the site of a scratch or wound. If the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment is carried out only under the supervision of a specialist. In addition, this disease is accompanied by severe pain, so you need to take potent medications, which only a doctor can prescribe.

Eye ulcers are classified into two types: infectious and non-infectious. Both types occur when the cornea is damaged. Their peculiarity lies in their almost imperceptible emergence and development in the first stages. Many patients see a doctor only when their visual acuity begins to deteriorate. If treatment is not started in time, the person will go blind.

Ulcers may increase in size. In addition, if it is not completely cured, then with repeated traumatization of the outer layer of the eye, the consequences will be more serious - destructive (destructive) processes will significantly intensify.

An eye ulcer can spread both over the surface and deep into the eyeball. This process is constantly accompanied by excruciating pain.

A growing ulcer poses a particular danger: the eye is no longer protected from pathogens, since erosion acts as a tunnel between the internal environment and the outside world.

When the defect heals, it will leave a scar. The latter can only be cured through surgery. But even surgical intervention is not always permitted. And if the eye is damaged again, the treatment will be much more serious.

Treatment of eye injuries: first aid measures

When injured, a feeling of panic arises. But you shouldn't give in to this feeling.

The main thing is to take action in time.

1. Blink hard, even if it hurts a lot. If tears flow, it doesn’t matter. Salt is a natural antiseptic that kills germs and relieves inflammation;
2. To disinfect the eye, you need to rinse it with saline solution. Washing with this product is a rather unpleasant process, accompanied by lacrimation and pain. However, this measure will provide a barrier against infection;
3. If it is not possible to prepare a saline solution, you can rinse with purified water.

It is strictly forbidden to touch the eye with your hands. But you can cover the lower eyelid with the upper one. Eyelashes also perform a protective function and sometimes help get rid of a foreign body that has injured the eye.

Treatment may include eyelid massage. Using the pads of several fingers, massage them easily and gently from the outer corner to the inner. But in case of severe injury, massage is strictly contraindicated.

Negative consequences of eye damage often arise due to attempts at self-medication. Do not touch the organ of vision with your fingers, cotton swabs, etc. Such measures can significantly aggravate the patient’s condition. Such problems should only be dealt with by a doctor in an outpatient/inpatient setting.

A common mistake is trying to pull out a foreign body stuck in the eye. This is strictly prohibited. If you try to get rid of the splinter yourself, you can damage the protective layer even more. The only thing the victim can do is use dark glasses to reduce photophobia. The latter is almost always present in cases of eye damage.

If the splinter is quite large, you should try to keep your eye open, despite the pain and lacrimation. This is due to the fact that the eyelids can further push the foreign body into the cornea, thereby increasing the affected area.

When the doctor removes the splinter, you need to create comfortable conditions for the damaged eye to heal. The specialist will definitely tell you how to care for the diseased organ.

It is worth noting that corneal trauma can affect existing eye diseases. So when the first alarming symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. This is especially true for such symptoms as deterioration of visual acuity.

Diagnosis and treatment of damage to the cornea of ​​the eye

To identify the defect, the doctor must instill a fluorescein solution. This substance stains the area of ​​epithelial damage and eliminates penetrating injury. That is, instillation of this solution will allow the doctor to assess the size and depth of the wound.

After removing the foreign body, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory eye drops, as well as healing ointments/drops. To reduce inflammation, in some cases drops that dilate the pupil are prescribed. If there are no complications, then the unpleasant symptoms will go away in about a week.

Treatment for foreign bodies in the eye

The doctor removes the splinter after administering a local anesthetic and under a special microscope (slit lamp). Finally, the patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drops with ointments, as well as the above-mentioned pupil dilation agents (sometimes).