corneal trauma

the corneal trauma is one of the main reasons for consultations with ophthalmologists in the emergency room. Do-it-yourselfers and "Sunday" gardeners generally do not protect their eyes before working and are the first to be affected by corneal trauma. There are also those who go down the ski slopes without goggles, those who receive a punch in the arcade and the reckless who uncork a bottle of champagne, paintball incidents... just as many situations that cause eye shock and damage the cornea.

Symptoms of Corneal Trauma

The pain is often immediate and very intense , it is this in general that informs the individual and leads him to the hospital or to a doctor. However it can happen that the pain occurs several hours later and often at night , such as during an ultraviolet burn. In these cases he is important to go to the CHU the nearest in order to have a precise medical opinion and to be treated by an expert in ophthalmology.

Prevention of corneal trauma

To protect your cornea, your eyes and also protect your sight, there are simple gestures such as wearing safety glasses or DIY glasses when practicing your activities. These protective glasses are available in eyeglasses , in sunglasses and glasses without correction . For those who are skiing there are the preferably sunglasses with polarized lenses . For a solar eclipse there are special category 14 lenses that protect your eyes.

The different treatments to cure corneal trauma

If it is a "classic" foreign body ; Dust, grain of sand… Just rinse his eyes with cold water .

If it is a chemical splash it's necessary rinse the eye with physiological serum for at least 15 minutes then consult an ophthalmologist afterwards even if you have no pain.

After a physical burn you don't have to do anything alone you have to immediately go to the university hospital to be handled by an expert. 

If you have just received a shock (punch) I don't have to rinse the eye or touch it, you have to close it and also go see a doctor.


In the most serious cases there is a corneal transplant !