Cornea

Corneal injury is a wound to the part of the eye known as the cornea. The cornea is the crystal clear (transparent) tissue that covers the front of the eye. It works with the lens of the eye to focus images on the retina.

Injury or infection of the cornea, the transparent front window of the eye, can lead to serious visual impairment.

TYPES OF GLAUCOMA

Primary Angle Closer Glaucoma
Secondary Open Angle
Closed Angle Glaucoma
Congenital Glaucoma

Causes

Injuries to the cornea are common.

Injuries to the outer surface may be due to:

Cataracts are caused by changes to the lens of your eye, mostly associated with ageing and exposure to ultraviolet light.

Cataracts develop when proteins in the lens are damaged and clump together. This reduces the amount of light that can pass through the lens to the retina, which leads to a loss of vision.

Abrasions -- Includes scratches or scrapes on the surface of the cornea
Chemical injuries -- Caused by almost any fluid that gets into the eye
Contact lens problems -- Overuse, poor fit, or sensitivity to contact lens care solutions
Foreign bodies -- Exposure to something in the eye such as sand or dust
Ultraviolet injuries -- Caused by sunlight, sun lamps, snow or water reflections, or arc-welding

Infections may also damage the cornea.
You are more likely to develop a corneal injury if you:

Are exposed to sunlight or artificial ultraviolet light for long periods of time
Have ill-fitting contact lenses or overuse your contact lenses
Have very dry eyes
Work in a dusty environment
Use a hammer or power tools without wearing safety glasses

High-speed particles, such as chips from hammering metal on metal, may get stuck in the surface of the cornea. Rarely, they may penetrate deeper into the eye.

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

Blurred vision
Eye pain or stinging and burning in the eye
Feeling like something is in your eye (may be caused by a scratch or something in your eye)
Light sensitivity
Redness of the eye
Swollen eyelids
Watery eyes or increased tearing

Treatment

First aid for eye emergencies:

Do not try to remove an object that is stuck in your eye without professional medical help.
If chemicals are splashed in the eye, immediately flush the eye with water for 15 minutes. The person should be quickly taken to the nearest emergency room.

Anyone with severe eye pain needs to be seen in an emergency care center or examined by an ophthalmologist right away.
Treatment for corneal injuries may involve:

Removing foreign material from the eye
Wearing an eye patch or temporary bandage contact lens
Using eye drops or ointments prescribed by the doctor
Not wearing contact lenses until the eye has healed
Taking pain medicines