Epithelial defect of the cornea — acutely painful but usually heals within 24-72 hours; contact lens wearers need Pseudomonas coverage.
Also known as: corneal abrasion, corneal epithelial defect, traumatic corneal abrasion, contact lens-related corneal abrasion
Overview
Disruption of the corneal epithelium from mechanical trauma without full-thickness penetration. Common mechanisms include fingernail injuries (especially in parents of infants), tree branches and paper, foreign bodies (metal, glass, wood, plant matter), and contact lens-related trauma. Recurrent corneal erosion is a related condition in which a poorly healed abrasion repeatedly breaks down.
Epidemiology
Among the most common eye complaints in emergency and primary care. Higher incidence in young men, occupational settings (construction, grinding), contact lens wearers, and parents of small children.
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Mechanical disruption of the corneal epithelium exposes sensory nerves (cornea is the most densely innervated tissue in the body), producing intense pain and photophobia. Healing occurs by sliding of adjacent epithelial cells within hours and mitosis over 24-72 hours, with reformation of hemidesmosomes attaching epithelium to basement membrane over weeks. Inadequate hemidesmosome formation predisposes to recurrent erosion. Organic or plant-matter trauma raises risk for fungal keratitis; contact lens wearers and trauma involving soil or vegetation raise risk for Pseudomonas and Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Recurrent erosion — pain on awakening with eyelid opening, recurring weeks to months after initial injury
Signs / physical exam
Conjunctival injection
Fluorescein staining of the epithelial defect under cobalt blue light — yellow-green uptake of denuded area
Foreign body visible on lid eversion or in the inferior fornix — always evert upper lid for vertical scratches
Seidel sign (positive in full-thickness corneal injury): fluorescein dye streaming down from a leaking aqueous source — indicates globe penetration, NOT an abrasion
No stromal infiltrate or hypopyon — these suggest keratitis
Classic findings
Acute painful red eye after recognizable trauma with fluorescein uptake of an epithelial defect.
Differential diagnosis
Corneal foreign body — Persistent foreign body sensation; visible particle on slit-lamp; remove with sterile needle/burr
Microbial (bacterial) keratitis — Stromal infiltrate, hypopyon, mucopurulent discharge; culture and treat as ulcer; never patch
Herpes simplex keratitis — Dendritic ulcer with terminal bulbs, decreased corneal sensation; topical/oral antivirals; NO patching, NO steroid
Recurrent corneal erosion — Recurrent episodes of pain on awakening; map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy or prior trauma; bandage lens, lubricant ointment
UV photokeratitis (welder's flash) — Bilateral severe pain 6-12 hours after UV exposure (welding, snow); punctate staining; supportive care
Chemical injury — Exposure to acid/alkali; alkali far worse; immediate copious irrigation > 30 min, check pH, ophthalmology
Culture/scrapings if appearance suggests infectious keratitis (infiltrate, contact lens-related, atypical)
Imaging
Slit-lamp examination with fluorescein staining — primary diagnostic tool
Visual acuity before and after exam
Lid eversion (upper lid) to exclude retained foreign body — mandatory when vertical linear staining is present
Seidel test if globe injury possible
Topical anesthetic (proparacaine, tetracaine) is essential to allow examination; never prescribe for home use — causes corneal toxicity, melt, perforation
CT orbits if intraocular foreign body suspected (history of grinding/metal, hammering, gunshot)
Diagnostic algorithm
Scenario
Antibiotic Choice
Patch?
Special Considerations
Simple non-contact-lens abrasion
Erythromycin ointment, polymyxin/trimethoprim, or sulfacetamide
Ophthalmology referral within 24 hours for: large or central abrasion, contact lens-related, infiltrate, decreased vision, hyphema, suspected penetration, or no improvement in 24-48 hours
Complications
Bacterial keratitis / corneal ulcer (especially in contact lens wearers — Pseudomonas can perforate the cornea within 24 hours)
Recurrent corneal erosion
Corneal scarring with permanent visual impairment if central
Endophthalmitis if penetrating injury missed
Misdiagnosis of herpes simplex keratitis as abrasion (dendrites may be subtle)
Topical anesthetic abuse → corneal melt
PANCE pearls
Always evert the upper lid in any patient with a corneal abrasion — retained subtarsal foreign bodies cause vertical linear stains and persistent pain.
Contact lens wearers get Pseudomonas coverage (fluoroquinolone), and they do NOT get patched.
Topical anesthetics are diagnostic, not therapeutic — never prescribe for home use.
An infiltrate, hypopyon, or large central defect is keratitis, not an abrasion — culture and treat as a corneal ulcer.
Vegetative-matter trauma (branch, hay) raises risk for fungal keratitis; soil contamination raises risk for Acanthamoeba in lens wearers using tap water.
Seidel-positive injury, hyphema, or distorted iris/pupil = globe penetration — shield (don't patch), avoid pressure, IV antibiotics, urgent surgical consultation.
References
AAO 2018 — American Academy of Ophthalmology. Bacterial Keratitis Preferred Practice Pattern. Ophthalmology 2019;126(1):P1-P55
Cochrane 2016 — Lim CH et al. Patching for corneal abrasion. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016;7:CD004764
Wilson 2004 — Wilson SA, Last A. Management of corneal abrasions. Am Fam Physician 2004;70(1):123-128
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