Corneal scarring | Causes | Symptoms | Types | Treatment

Corneal scarring


Corneal scarring

This is the usual end result of healed corneal ulcer. The Corneal scarring leads to permanent visual impairment ranging from slight blurring to total blindness. Depending upon the clinical course of the ulcer, corneal scar noted maybe a nebula, macula, leucoma, ectatic cicatrix or keratectasia, adherent leucoma, or anterior staphyloma.

It plays a key role in vision. The light that enters to eye gets refracted or bent by the cornea's curved edges. This help to determine how well your eye can focus on object close-up and far away.

If the cornea is damaged by disease, injury, infection, the resulting scars will affect vision. They can block or distort light as it enters the eye. It's actually one of the most common eye injuries and even though it can be painful, it's usually quite minor. It can happen for all kinds of reasons, from sports or DIY injuries to getting sand in your eye.

Causes

Anything that makes contact with the surface of the eye can scratch it,
causing injury. But common causes include airborne particles like dust or sand. Foreign objects like make-up brushes, or objects that make contact with the eye during DIY, sports, or playtime can all lead to scratched eyes.

 If you suffer from dry eyes, you may be at greater risk of corneal abrasion or damage. This is because your eyes aren't getting enough lubrication. Dry eyes can make your corneal surface much more fragile and even something as simple as rubbing your eye can cause scratches.

  1. Congenital opacities may occur as developmental anomalies or following birth trauma.
  2. Healed corneal wounds
  3. Healed corneal ulcers

Symptoms 

  1. If you have a scratched eye, you'll almost certainly feel discomfort.
  2. You may feel like you have sand or grit in your eye.
  3. You might notice your eye seems a little red and you may experience sensitivity to light.
  4. You could also experience teary, watering eyes,
  5. blurred vision, or pain when opening or closing your eye.
  6. If you experience any of these symptoms or changes to vision,
  7. it’s important to get your eyes checked quickly, to make sure there's no serious damage

Cornea disease refers to different conditions that affect this part of the eye. These may be infection, tissue breakdown, or other disorders like heredity.

The cornea can heal itself after minor injuries or infections. But during the healing process, you may notice symptoms like
  1. Pain
  2. Blurred vision
  3. Tearing
  4. Redness
  5. Extreme sensitivity to light (photophobia)

Clinical features

  • The Corneal opacity may produce loss of vision (when dense opacity covers the pupillary area) or blurred vision (due to astigmatic effect).

How long it takes to heal?

The majority of corneal abrasions will slowly self-heal over a number of days. However, a scratched eye may require eye drops or ointment. This is because surface damage makes the eye more susceptible to infection and additional lubrication can help the healing process. If you notice any changes in your vision or are worried about a scratched eye, you should contact your optician for more advice. 

Types

  1. Nebular
  2. Macular
  3. Leucomatous(leucoma simplex)
  4. Adherent leucoma
  5. FACET
  6. Ker-ectasia
  7. Anterior staphyloma

Can we wear contact lenses with a scratched eye?

If you suspect you have a scratched eye, you should stop wearing your
regular contact lenses until your eye have healed.
 This is because you're at increased risk of an infection
developing underneath the contact lens.
 Contact lenses won't protect your eyes from corneal abrasions. In fact,
worn or damaged contact lenses may increase the risk of scratching your eye.
If you're undertaking an activity such as DIY,
you should always wear the proper safety equipment.

Treatment 

  1. Optical iridectomy
  2. Phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK)
  3. Keratoplasty provides good visual results
  4. Cosmetic colored contact lens 
  5. Tattooing of scar

Should I use eye drops to treat a scratched eye?
 

If you get something in your eye, the temptation is to rub it.

Don't. This can make things worse. If you feel something in your eye, you can attempt to rinse it with a sterile saline eyewash or contact lens solution. Don't use tap water as this can contain harmful bacteria that could cause an infection. Your optician may prescribe antibiotic eye drops to prevent an infection from developing. Regular, over-the-counter eye drops may help ease the discomfort of a scratched eye, but they won't prevent an infection from developing. That's why it's important to see an optician as soon as possible.

Written by Barsha Panth

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