Abrasions in the cornea of my eye

It is trite knowledge that the eye is the only organ of sight or the organ that provides the sense of vision.

It is not only a complex organ but also one of the most important organs of the human body.

Just like most of the human bodily organs, the eye is composed of series of integral parts.

Some of the parts of the eye are the optic nerve, sclera, optic disc, choroid, pupil, suspensory ligament, fovea centralis, ciliary body, aqueous body, vitreous body, retina, lens, iris and the cornea.

These plethora parts of the human eye work in series and complement one another daily to provide sight or vision to the human body. Accordingly, a defect in one part of the eye has cascading effects on other parts of the eye.

Said reiteratively, no part of the eye is more important than the other as they all function in unison to make the eye relevant to the human body.

This article focuses on that part of the eye called the cornea and how it should be protected from abrasions even though the whole eye as an important organ must be protected and well maintained for sight even as a person ages. 

Cornea and its relevance

The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye (sclera) that covers the iris, pupil and other parts of the eye. Light enters the eye through the cornea. Said differently, the cornea is the outermost, clear layer of the eye, immediately anterior to the iris and the pupil.

The cornea is also made up of five distinct layers namely the epithelium, bowman’s membrane, the stroma, descemet’s membrane, and the endothelium (the innermost part of the cornea).

According to eye anatomists, the cornea does not only protect the eye from infiltrates and ultraviolet radiation but it is also responsible for approximately 65 per cent to 75 per cent of the refraction of light as it passes through the eye.

The cornea performs the initial refraction on the lens, which further focuses the light onto the retina.

Anatomically, cornea development begins with the formation of the presumptive corneal epithelium. Due to the importance of its transparency, the cornea does not contain any blood vessels.

Rather, it receives nutrients through diffusion on its external side from tear fluid and the aqueous humour internally. 

Corneal Abrasions

Clinically, various conditions affect the cornea and some of these conditions are allergies, keratitis (corneal inflammation), dry eye and injury (or corneal abrasions). Corneal abrasions include any scratches or scrapes on the surface of the cornea.

Corneal abrasions may be caused by any number of objects, including fingernails, poorly fit contact lens wear, plant branches and foreign objects blown or thrown into the eyes.

Certain chemicals can also cause abrasions in the cornea. An abrasion to the cornea can lead to visual impairment especially if it is not detected early and managed properly by ophthalmic experts.

Symptoms

The symptomatic manifestations or prognosis of a corneal abrasion may include but not limited to blurred vision, eye pain, feeling that something is the eye, light sensitivity, redness of the eye, swollen eyelids and watery eyes (increased tearing). 

Treatment

Diagnosing and effective treatment of eye abrasions call for thorough eye tests such as standard eye exam and slit lamp examinations.

The treatment of corneal abrasions is dependent on the cause of the abrasion. As such, treatment may include removing of foreign material from the eye, wearing an eye patch, using prescribed eye drops or ointments, wearing contact eye lenses until the eye is healed and taking prescribed painkillers. 

Ophthalmic clinicians opine that injuries that affect only the surface of the cornea may heal very quickly with treatment and the eye should be back to normal within two days. A delayed healing may warrant placement of an amniotic membrane on the eye. Injuries that penetrate the cornea are more serious and difficult to treat. 

Prevention

Prevention they say is better than cure. As such, preventing corneal abrasions is better than treating them. Pragmatic measures necessary to prevent injuries to the cornea of the eye may include but not limited to those enumerated below.

i. Wearing of safety goggles at all times when using or close to objects or chemicals that can cause injury to the eye.

ii. Wearing of sunglasses that screen ultraviolet light when you are exposed to sunlight or you are in an area where welding is taking place.

iii. Protect the eye when using products that contain chemicals that can harm the eye. Read carefully, the manufacturer’s instructions on the labels of such products. 

Conclusion

Corneal injury or abrasion is a wound to that part of the eye called the cornea. The cornea is a crystal clear (transparent) tissue that covers the front of the eye. The cornea works with the lens of the eye to focus images on the retina. It also helps the refraction of light as it passes through the eye.

As such, a damage to the cornea of the eye can lead to visual impairment. Advisedly, therefore, it is better to prevent injuries to any part of the eye rather than efforts directed at healing such injuries.

Let us protect the eye, the only organ for sight because without sight, the entire human body is in physical darkness, thereby affecting health and productivity.  

* The writer is a Hospital Administrator 
Email: afetikorto@yahoo.com