Corneal Abrasion

A scratch on the surface of the cornea

Overview

A corneal abrasion is a scrape of the corneal epithelium, the thin outer cell layer of the cornea, caused by fingernails, makeup brushes, branches, contact lenses, or particles in the eye. Because the cornea is one of the most densely innervated tissues in the body, even a small abrasion causes marked pain, a foreign body sensation, watering, and light sensitivity. Clinicians usually identify it by staining the eye with fluorescein dye and viewing it under blue light. The epithelium regenerates quickly, so most small abrasions heal within days, though infection is a recognized complication.