Corneal Abrasion

Diagnosis

Your doctor will examine your eye with a light to check for any obvious corneal injuries, small specks of dust or dirt, or other foreign objects. To confirm the diagnosis of a very small corneal abrasion, your doctor may need to place a small drop of a yellow-orange dye called fluorescein into your eye. This dye will cause any area of abrasion to look greenish under a special blue light.

Usually, if you have only a mild corneal abrasion, you will not need any other tests. However, if your injury is more serious, your doctor may examine your eye with device called a slit lamp, and also test your vision.

Expected Duration

With proper treatment, symptoms of a mild corneal abrasion almost always improve or disappear totally within 24 to 48 hours. For more severe abrasions, symptoms often last longer.