Overview
A corneal abrasion is a scratch or cut (abrasion) of the clear outer layer (cornea) of the eye. Injury (trauma) is the most common cause for corneal abrasions. The most common trauma causes are:
- Scratches from fingernails (human and animal).
- Foreign objects hitting the cornea (eg, dirt, wood splinters, metal shavings, plants, tree branches, etc).
- Curling irons.
- Excessive rubbing of the eye.
- Overexposure to ultraviolet light.
- Arc welding light exposure.
- Over wearing of contact lenses.
- Ill-fitting contact lenses.
- Torn contact lenses.
- Makeup brushes.
- Paper cuts.
- Chemical burns.
- Irregular eyelashes rubbing the cornea or falling off into the eye.
- A foreign object that gets caught under the eyelid, which then irritates the cornea each time you blink.
Other causes include underlying eye conditions, such as:
- Inability to fully close the eyelids.
- Abnormalities of the lid position.
- Severe dry eye conditions.
- Severe, chronic blepharitis (inflamed eyelids).
