Lesions affecting the surface of the eye, and in particular the cornea are very frequent and are usually associated with the following development of inflammation (with edema, redness, etc). Corneal injuries include abrasions, which are limited to the surface of the eye and caused by microtraumas, even banal ones. In addition, you may have corneal lesions due to surgical treatments involving the anterior segment of the eye.
Discomfort (such as having a foreign body in the eye) or real pain, tearing, frequently photofobia and at times blurred vision.
Medical treatment depends on the depth and extension of the lesion and usually includes cleaning the wound and dressing with or without an ocular bandage.
Lesions affecting the surface of the eye, and in particular the cornea are very frequent. According to recent estimates, the above actually represent about 10% of the total number of cases of ophthalmological emergencies.
Corneal lesions are generally associated with the subsequent development of inflammation (with edema, redness, etc). The most common are corneal abrasions, which are limited to the surface of the eye and caused by microtraumas, even banal ones, such as a fingernail scratching the eye or the use of contact lenses. In addition, you have corneal lesions due to surgical treatments involving the anteriror segment of the eye.
A wound in the eye, even the smallest one, generally causes a feeling of discomfort, like the sensation generated by the presence of a foreign body in the eye, or of real pain, tearing, frequently photofobia and at times blurred vision.
Medical treatment depends on the extent of the corneal damage and consists of two phases.
- Cleaning: the first intervention of the ophthalmologist consists in cleaning the wound, and removing the foreign body or substance with which the eye has got in contact
- Dressing, which has three objectives:
1. lubricate the eye surface to enhance the reparative processes of the ocular surface
2. protect the area of the lesion from the forces of friction, environmental irritant factors and to prevent the superposition of an infection
3. encourage the development of new healthy tissue.
To achieve all these three objectives, the most effective solution is to use a medicament (generally associated with an antibiotic) that has a prolonged time of permanence on the ocular surface and does not contain preservatives. The most commonly used pharmaceutical forms are ointments and gels. Unlike ointments which are not very comfortable because they are not transparent or are very viscous, gels don't cloud the vision and ensure ocular lubrication and hydration.
In case of large and/or deep lesions, in addition to the treatment above, the ophthalmologist usually also applies an ocular bandage for about 2-3 days to reduce eyelid rubbing and facilitate the process of corneal healing.
