Treatment and When to See an Eye Doctor
Treatment Options for a Scratched Eye
Treatment depends on what the exam finds. Most corneal scratches heal within a few days, and larger ones take longer. An eye doctor often prescribes antibiotic eye drops or ointment to keep the scratch from becoming infected, and lubricating drops can ease the discomfort during healing. Check with your eye doctor before using any drop at all. No drugstore drop is made to heal a scratch, and whitening drops can sting a scratched eye without making it heal any faster. Leave contact lenses out until the eye has healed and your eye doctor says when you can wear them again. Sunglasses help if light bothers the eye.
When to See an Eye Doctor
Any scratch on the cornea is worth an exam, ideally the same day. If the eye gets worse, or is still bothering you past the point your eye doctor said it should settle, call back. Pain that returns after the eye seemed to heal, often on waking, needs a prompt visit too. Go to the emergency room first if something has cut or punctured the eye, an object is stuck in it, a chemical has splashed into it (rinse with clean water first, then go), your vision drops suddenly, or the pain is severe. The office is closed after hours, so for those signs at night, an urgent care center or emergency room is the place to go.
