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Suggest Treatment For Abrasion On Sclera Of Eye

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Posted on Thu, 19 Feb 2015
Question: I have been told that I have a scalera abrasion. I was given an antibiotic eye drop yesterday and was asked to use it 3 times a day for 3 days. I have put in 4 drops thus far. However, I feel like something is in my eye and I am having a little blurry vision. Could the blurry vision be because of the antibiotic eye drop? Or, should I go to the ER?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Muhammed Aslam (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Kindly give few more details.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX,
Welcome to HCM forum.
Thanks for posting to us.

I need few more details to have a clear idea. Kindly go through the following questions.

1) Can you tell me whether the abrasion is on the sclera(white part) or on the cornea(transparent front part) of the eyeball?
2) How did this happen- by any foreign body, or spontaneously?
3) Do you have eye pain or difficulty in looking at bright light?
4) Is the foreign body feeling localized to one particular area, or diffuse?
5) Any other features like headache/nausea/vomiting?
6) Any other significant eye diseases or medical disorders in the past?

Vigamox contains Moxifloxacin eye drops. Though it can cause some ocular irritation, blurring of vision can not be attributed to this. Blurring of vision indicates causes like corneal edema, ocular inflammation, raised intraocular pressure etc. Among these, corneal edema and high IOP need emergency treatment.

Kindly get back with details soon. Meanwhile, avoid hand rubbing and direct light exposure to the eye.
Wishing for everything to be fine.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Muhammed Aslam (9 hours later)
Dr. Aslam,

In response to your questions above,

(1) The abrasion is on the white part of my eye, but I was poked in the eye twice, once fairly hard in the middle of the eye (cornea area) and once toward the corner of my eye (near nose) where it is scratched. I saw my doctor on Tuesday (2 days ago) and she said that my sclera was scratched and that my eyes were slightly dry. I am assuming that everything else was normal. I remember her saying that the eye pressure was perfect and that my cornea looked ok.

(2) Poked by someone's finger.

(3) Yes, eye pain (I feel a dull ache & my eye feels swollen. It feels like something is in my eye. Funny that you mentioned the sun, because yesterday I felt like it was bothering me.

(4) Foreign body feels localized to the corner of my eye, near my nose.

(5) No headache, vomiting, etc.

(6) I had an annual routine eye exam one week ago and everythng was normal except my cell count was at 1300 in each eye. I was told that I have a corneal dystrophy (Fuch's ?) and that sometime in the future I may have an issue with it.

Thank you for your help.
XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Muhammed Aslam (11 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Better to get back to your doctor-corneal abrasion to be ruled out.

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
Thanks for the information.
Sorry for delay in response.

As per your doctor, there was only a scleral abrasion, and no corneal scratch on initial evaluation.

But, isolated scleral abrasion is very unlikely to cause blurred vision(unless associated with excessive mucoid discharge) and light sensitivity(photophobia). These features usually indicate corneal involvement(abrasion). This can happen since you had a hard poke on the cornea and minor corneal abrasions can be missed on immediate evaluation. With time, corneal edema develops around the area resulting in blurring and photophobia.
If confirmed, we will need upgradation of antibiotics and sometimes eye bandaging for few days.

So it will be fine if you can get back to your doctor for reevaluation.
Meanwhile, continue antibiotic drops and avoid rubbing/direct light.

Be free to ask if you need further clarification.
Wishing you a faster recovery.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Muhammed Aslam (1 hour later)
Thank you for your response.

I spoke to my doctor this morning. She said that my initial evaluation revealed that I had dry eyes. She asked me to try Refresh eyedrops 5 or 6 times a day and an eye gel at bedtime. She also told me to continue to use the antibiotic drop 3 times a day for 7 (instead of 3) days. She said that she felt that my dry eyes were causing the blurry vision and the feeling that something was in my eye. Do you think that this information is accurate or do you think that I should press her for a re-evaluation? In the meantime, my eye does not feel normal. By the way, the "poke" in my eye was almost a week ago (tomorrow). Why wouldn't it have healed by now?? Thank you so so much for your help. I really appreciate it very much. XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Muhammed Aslam (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
If the symptoms are getting better, we can wait.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for getting back to me.

If you had the poke 1 week back, corneal edema is unlikely. Any corneal injury usually will present early.

If your blurring and foreign body sensation is getting down by the said drops and ointments, there is no harm in waiting for slow recovery.otherwise, it will be fine if you can have an direct examination.

If you have no further questions, you can close the discussion and rate the answer; otherwise I will be happy to help.
Wishing you good health.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Muhammed Aslam

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 987 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Abrasion On Sclera Of Eye

Brief Answer: Kindly give few more details. Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXXXX, Welcome to HCM forum. Thanks for posting to us. I need few more details to have a clear idea. Kindly go through the following questions. 1) Can you tell me whether the abrasion is on the sclera(white part) or on the cornea(transparent front part) of the eyeball? 2) How did this happen- by any foreign body, or spontaneously? 3) Do you have eye pain or difficulty in looking at bright light? 4) Is the foreign body feeling localized to one particular area, or diffuse? 5) Any other features like headache/nausea/vomiting? 6) Any other significant eye diseases or medical disorders in the past? Vigamox contains Moxifloxacin eye drops. Though it can cause some ocular irritation, blurring of vision can not be attributed to this. Blurring of vision indicates causes like corneal edema, ocular inflammation, raised intraocular pressure etc. Among these, corneal edema and high IOP need emergency treatment. Kindly get back with details soon. Meanwhile, avoid hand rubbing and direct light exposure to the eye. Wishing for everything to be fine. Thank you.