Corneal Laceration
A corneal laceration is a tear or cut of the cornea - the front lining of the eyeball. It is usually caused by something sharp flying into the eye, or an impact from something sharp.
Symptoms of a Corneal Laceration
- Pain in the eye.
- Affected vision.
- The pupil may appear tear-shaped rather than round.
- Sensitivity to light.
- Bleeding in the eye.
- The feeling that there is something in the eye.
Causes
The most common causes of corneal lacerations are activities which may cause something to fly up and enter the eye. These include chopping wood, strimming grass and carving stone.
A corneal laceration is deeper than a corneal abrasion which simply scratches the cornea rather than cutting through it.
Treatment of a Corneal Laceration
- If you suspect a corneal laceration, seek medical attention immediately.
- An opthalmologist (doctor who specialises in eyes) will examine the eye.
- They may use numbing drops to make this more comfortable for you and to encourage you to keep the eye open.
- An eye stain may also be used to help detect the amount of damage.
- Surgery is usually require to repair corneal lacerations.
- Any fragments remaining in the eye will also need to be removed.
- The eye will be patched following surgery to protect it.
