Scratched Cornea

• Laley23

  

  So, I was working the other day during the storms that came through Toledo. I got a bunch of sand in my eyes, and now 2 days later it still feels as though a grain is still in there. I am 99.99% positive there is nothing still in my eye, but I have never had a scratched cornea. So anyone know what it feels like? Does it feel like something is in the eye (like sand or eyelash)? Cause that is what this feels like, but a little bit more painful, especially when I blink/sleep.
  
  Second is who treats it? Can I go buy some eye drops? Do I need to go to my doctor, the ER, an eye doctor? Any help is appreciated! Thanks, cause this sucks!
• I Am Ahab

  Don't seek medical advice on OC. That's my advice.
• Little Danny

  

  Go to the emergency room, let a doctor look at it and clean it out. You might need an antibiotic and a referral to a opthamologist. You don't want the eye to become infected as it could lead to a loss of vision.
• Skyhook79

  

  Scratched Cornea.. hmmm Proctologist?
• Laley23

  

  I Am Ahab;813834 wrote:Don't seek medical advice on OC. That's my advice.

  
  Im not really...
  
  Just didnt know who I had to see for a scratched cornea. No one in my "real life" had any answers lol. I also didnt know if anyone had ever experienced one and could tell me what it feels like so I would know for sure. I am getting checked out regardless if it still is like this tomorrow.
• coyotes22

  

  Laley23;813938 wrote:Im not really...
  
  Just didnt know who I had to see for a scratched cornea. No one in my "real life" had any answers lol. I also didnt know if anyone had ever experienced one and could tell me what it feels like so I would know for sure. I am getting checked out regardless if it still is like this tomorrow.

  
  Go to the ER, they can help. Went twice for eye problems:
  
  First time- I was running duct work, we were using metal strapping. I was holding the pipe, buddy was mounting the strap. He let go of the strap, came down across my eye, and scratched it pretty good. Went to ER, and they put a numbing drop in my eye, which helped for a few hours, then gave me a script for eye drops. It does feel like there is something in it.
  
  Second time- I was running the screen press at work, and we have UV lights that cure the ink. We were running a job that required us to run w/o the lamp guards, and I was too stubborn to wear the UV glasses. Woke up the next day, couldnt even open my eyes, had to go to ER. Again, numbing drops and a dye was put in my eyes, doc said I had welders flash burn. It too felt like I had sand in my eyes.
  
  Eye injuries are pain full. I would go as soon as possible.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  Eye drops. Eye doctor. Don't go to the fucking ER.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Try flushing the eye out. They sell and an eye wash you can use to irrigate the eye and remove any foreign matter. The eye will evenually evict the sand by tearing up and flushing it out.
  
  In the future if you are working in windy conditions, buy a pair of safety glasses.
• Laley23

  

  THE4RINGZ;814028 wrote:Try flushing the eye out. They sell and an eye wash you can use to irrigate the eye and remove any foreign matter. The eye will evenually evict the sand by tearing up and flushing it out.
  
  In the future if you are working in windy conditions, buy a pair of safety glasses.

  
  Problem is I was operating a camera, so to be able to see, you cant have glasses on at all (have to have contacts even). But yeah, Im positive its not sand as I close my eye and when I move the eye I can feel the "scratch" along the eyelid. Leads me to believe it is on the eye and not matter IN the eye. Either way, it hasnt gotten worse, but now that the USA-Mexico game is over, Im going to head to the ER. Might as well do it since it is keeping me from going out...
• Laley23

  

  ernest_t_bass;813999 wrote:Eye drops. Eye doctor. Don't go to the fucking ER.

  
  Closed till Monday. Eye drops would be fine...if I knew they would work.
• Laley23

  

  coyotes22;813965 wrote:Go to the ER, they can help. Went twice for eye problems:
  
  First time- I was running duct work, we were using metal strapping. I was holding the pipe, buddy was mounting the strap. He let go of the strap, came down across my eye, and scratched it pretty good. Went to ER, and they put a numbing drop in my eye, which helped for a few hours, then gave me a script for eye drops. It does feel like there is something in it.
  
  Second time- I was running the screen press at work, and we have UV lights that cure the ink. We were running a job that required us to run w/o the lamp guards, and I was too stubborn to wear the UV glasses. Woke up the next day, couldnt even open my eyes, had to go to ER. Again, numbing drops and a dye was put in my eyes, doc said I had welders flash burn. It too felt like I had sand in my eyes.
  
  Eye injuries are pain full. I would go as soon as possible.

  
  Thanks. Heading there now.
• TedSheckler

  

  Eyes heal very fast. My son got a 3/4"-long twig stuck under his eyelid. Scratched his eye very bad. He was fine after a week with only using some drops.
• Laley23

  

  Conjunctival Abrasion was the diagnosis. Basically, a cut on the lower white of my eye. Fastest ER trip of my life, at just over an hour. Prescribed some eye drops and should be good in 3 days.
  
  Thanks everyone.
• coyotes22

  

  Laley23;814081 wrote:Conjunctival Abrasion was the diagnosis. Basically, a cut on the lower white of my eye. Fastest ER trip of my life, at just over an hour. Prescribed some eye drops and should be good in 3 days.
  
  Thanks everyone.

  
  good luck
• OSH

  

  I wish I would've caught this earlier.
  
  I had a scratched cornea a couple of years ago. I went to one of those medical facilities, like a Quick Care or something like that. It was a good place, an urgent care place. It may have been one of the worst feelings I've ever had. I couldn't blink. I couldn't do anything with my right eye (my good one). I had to hold it closed for almost a week. They gave me an eye patch, which was just gauze and tape. It helped keep my eye shut and made sure I didn't blink.
  
  I had some sort of eye drops. There were like 2 different types. One was an antibiotic (I know this because antibiotics give me nasty side effects). It was a nasty scratch too. Went clear across my eye.
• Hb31187

  

  We get patients that have a scratched cornea all the time at work (optometrists office). Most go to the ER and the ER doesnt really know shit about eyes, its kinda mind boggling that they dont have more training in the area(or maybe its just the ER here in town). Corneal abrasions are not fun at all, feels like you have sand trapped under your eyelid lol. Most of the time its just drops (usually an antibiotic one and then just artificial tears) and keeping the eye closed so it doesnt blink repeatedly (and make the abrasion worse). Looks like you got it under control though, good luck.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  Enjoy your ER bill.
• Laley23

  

  ernest_t_bass;814123 wrote:Enjoy your ER bill.

  
  Insurance dawg!!! No insurance, worker comp would have covered it.
• fan_from_texas

  I scratched my cornea pretty bad a few years ago. It's the worst pain I've ever felt. It's really a miserable experience.
• ricola

  

  Hb31187;814099 wrote:We get patients that have a scratched cornea all the time at work (optometrists office). Most go to the ER and the ER doesnt really know **** about eyes, its kinda mind boggling that they dont have more training in the area(or maybe its just the ER here in town). Corneal abrasions are not fun at all, feels like you have sand trapped under your eyelid lol. Most of the time its just drops (usually an antibiotic one and then just artificial tears) and keeping the eye closed so it doesnt blink repeatedly (and make the abrasion worse). Looks like you got it under control though, good luck.

  
  Know what you're talking about before posting like this.( Do you know how much training an ER doc has in ophthalmology?) Or at least don't make sweeping generalizations about ERs/ER docs based on one or two docs/ERs you might have experienced.
• I Wear Pants

  ernest_t_bass;814123 wrote:Enjoy your ER bill.

  Are ER bills usually high with insurance? Mine have never been bad.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  I Wear Pants;817076 wrote:Are ER bills usually high with insurance? Mine have never been bad.

  
  Mine usually will run around $100 for an ER visit. Visine and patience are a lot cheaper. An eye doctor would cost me either $15 or $30 copay.
• McFly1955

  

  I Wear Pants;817076 wrote:Are ER bills usually high with insurance? Mine have never been bad.

  My wife had an ER visit this year --- we have an HSA at my work, it works out either way that the HSA is more cost effective than the traditional plan no matter what...
  
  ER visit + 12 hours in the hospital = a little over $10,000
  
  The ER portion was $3,000-$4,000, and we were on the hook for $4,000.....eff...that...
• Little Danny

  

  Look, whether the guy went to the ER or an urgent care facility, the point is he needed to get the appropriate antibiotic drops immediately (tobramycin). Any delay could have resulted in a ulcerated cornea, which in turn could have led to a loss of vision. I have seen it happen before on a couple occasions. Is your eyesight worth $100 or more?