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[canuckois]

I'm currently suffering through a corneal abrasion -- it's agonizing.  Supposedly they tend to heal in 24-48 hours.  Does anyone else have experience with this?

[tuxedo_cat]

I first read the title of this thread as "Cornmeal Abrasion" and was immediately curious.  Is cornmeal indeed abrasive?

But clearly it's just my eyesight that is disintegrating.  Perhaps it is the early signs of a corNeal abrasion.

I don't have an answer, canuckois, but it sounds dreadful!  I hope it heals up soon.  You could listen to back episodes of "Wait, Wait!  Don't Tell Me!" while you're waiting.  I hope ou don't have a deadline!

[chaosbydesign]

I've had this more than once (because long nails and contact lenses are a bad combination for corneas) and they usually heal in 24 hours. But oh my god, does that hurt. I find eye baths help with the irritation, and it's best not to rub your eye if you can avoid it, because it can do more damage. Also, wearing sunglasses helps.

[hungry_ghost]

Yes. Mine was severe (an accident in which dirt / sand were rubbed into my open eye with pressure) and I was in the ER shaking with pain. I never got a clear sense of whether it was just "severe abrasion" or "torn cornea". I had to wear an eye patch for a while, and then dark glasses for a couple of weeks. Yours isn't as bad as mine or you wouldn't be in front of a computer screen (I hope). Mine was not OK in 24-48 hours.

My advice: Take something for the pain. Sleep, it won't hurt when you're sleeping. The pain will leave you exhausted anyhow.

Have your doctor recommend something OTC to keep your eye lubricated. I used an ointment for a while, and then eye drops. They weren't medicated, just to keep my eye lubricated. For me, the danger was that my eye would dry out at night, and then the cornea would be injured again when I opened my eyes (dry lid peeling off of a dry cornea) in the morning. I learned to squirt drops into the corner of my eye while my eyes were still closed, and then to open my eyes slowly. Certain factors can cause dry eyes, which in my case caused a major setback on two different occasions. It took me several years to recover fully. If your eye itches and hurts, lubricant may help. DO NOT rub your eyes (you know that of course, but just reminding you, do not touch, sit on your hands).

The injury has had no effect on my vision at all.

I hope you recover quickly and feel better soon,  and I sincerely hope you're reading this and thinking "wow mine is nowhere near as bad!" Just remembering the pain makes me shudder. Heal quickly please.

[michigander]

My domestic partner woke up from abdominal surgery with a corneal abrasion that somehow occurred during the surgery.  He reported that the pain was worse than from his incisions but it was gone as promised within 24 hours with no effect on his vision.  He was given some eye drops to use for the day which helped but didn't eliminate the pain completely.  

[canuckois]

Thanks for the replies and well-wishes.  Hungry_Ghost, your ordeal sounds horrific.  You're right, my abrasion isn't nearly that severe, but I'm definitely wishing I had some eyedrops now.  All I have are those for allergies, and the doctor told me not to use those.  I'll try rinsing the eye periodically with water to make sure it doesn't get too dry.

After 2+ weeks of eye irritation due to allergies, this really isn't what I wanted!  I hope it's mostly healed by tomorrow.

[terpsichore]

I've had corneal abrasions several times. They are miserable, but the eyes do generally heal quickly.

Don't rinse your eyes with water. It's not the right pH or viscosity or something. Ask your doctor if you can use OTC artificial tears. They are gentler because they are similar to the tears your eyes produce.

[canuckois]

I've had corneal abrasions several times. They are miserable, but the eyes do generally heal quickly.

Don't rinse your eyes with water. It's not the right pH or viscosity or something. Ask your doctor if you can use OTC artificial tears. They are gentler because they are similar to the tears your eyes produce.

Thanks for the water tip.  I'm watching some of my favorite schlocky YouTube clips to generate some real tears!

[spectacle]

Yes, oh god, yes, my husband suffered from chronic abrasions for over two years.

Check with your doctor first to make sure you can use something like Lacri-Lube (I know, I know) before bed - our eyes tend to dry out while we're sleeping and abrasions can be re-aggravated when you first wake up if you're not properly lubed before bed.

*hugs* and good luck; poor canuckois.

[reener06]

I accidentally walked into a tree branch about 2 years ago. I woke up the next morning in excruciating pain, and had to be driven to the eye doctor. They needed to numb my eye to look in it and found a corneal abrasion. It was really awful pain. I was not allowed on the computer for at least 24 hours, and little reading. It was hard to watch TV, so I mostly sat on the couch with my eyes closed. It slowly got better, but the scabbing someone mentioned above would happen--it would dry overnight, and when I opened my eyes in the morning, it pulled off the scab and it would start all over again. It still flares up during allergy season. It did take somewhere between 8-10 weeks to get better,   but like I said, it still flares up.

Ibuprofen helps with the pain; also, wet a washcloth and zap in microwave about 20 seconds, or as hot as you can stand. Place on closed eye until heat dissipates. This helps a lot. Teardrops did not help much, but I do use a lubricant gel at night when it flares up, and that helps very much (on doc's orders).

I'm sorry you are going through this. It was pretty awful and painful. I had no idea, nor any idea it would last as long as it did.

[merinoblue]

How dreadful. I get one now and then because I am a bit careless when I rub my eyes. Thera Tears is a solution I swear by. It's the right pH balanced lubricant drops for eyes.

I have to disagree with reener06 about using a hot compress, as this will make the inflammation (and pain) worse (unless your experience is different). Put cold compresses against your lid. Don't press; just hold. It will relieve the pain somewhat and reduce inflammation.

[hungry_ghost]

I had tried not to think about this for years, but now I remember, they put a pad over my eyelid and taped it shut, and I had to untape it and put ointment in it several times / day. I had repressed this memory entirely, it seems.

I am so glad yours isn't as serious, but I know it still hurts.

Definitely get some eye drops as soon as possible and don't let your eye dry out (an ounce of prevention, right?) This might be especially important because it is allergy season, and you mentioned eye irritation. You want this to heal fast and not come back ever. Open your eyes S.L.O.W.L.Y when you wake up in the morning.

Your doctor probably won't be answering the phone on Sunday, but you can ask the pharmacist (if you can find one working on Sunday) to recommend drops and ointment. I used ointment at night, since it kept my eye moist all night so it didn't hurt when I woke up, and the drops were for daytime. The drops I used were for people who suffer from dry eye.

Good luck, and I hope you're better very soon.

[systeme_d_]

I have one that has never quite healed properly.  So my advice is to religiously use the lubricating drops that are prescribed, get the numbing drops too, and sleep as much as you can.

I know how awful this is, and you have my most sincere well-wishes.

[prytania3]

The worst! like Oedipus, I wanted to poke my eyes out.

It really does get better.

[canuckois]

Love the Oedipus reference -- that's exactly how I felt yesterday.

Thanks for the advice, good thoughts, and sympathy, everyone -- exactly what I needed!  I (and my eye) feel much better today...though I had to literally pry it open this morning as it was entirely encrusted with grossness.  The pain is basically gone, as are the constant tears and the (pain-induced) runny nose.  I bought some drops to keep my eye nice and moist, which has been a big help as well.

I'm a little surprised that so many people seem to have experience with these abrasions, as I'd never heard of it before, really.  At least I've learned to treat my eyes a little more carefully.