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Injured The Sclera. Hurting And Having Congestion. See An Opthalmologist?
Hello Doctor,
I injured the sclera of my left eye in the morning while using an eyeliner( i know it's silly)..
I realized it's hurting only when i tried to wash my eyes in evening..What I saw was minor congestion on sclera( a very thin red line)
It hurts only when I wash my eyes, not otherwise..
Do I need to see an opthalmologist or start using antibiotic eyedrops?
Thank you,
Tina
I injured the sclera of my left eye in the morning while using an eyeliner( i know it's silly)..
I realized it's hurting only when i tried to wash my eyes in evening..What I saw was minor congestion on sclera( a very thin red line)
It hurts only when I wash my eyes, not otherwise..
Do I need to see an opthalmologist or start using antibiotic eyedrops?
Thank you,
Tina
Mon, 13 May 2013
Hi Tina,
Thanks for your question. From what you have described you have scratched the white part of your eye. You are correct that the sclera is located in that area but it is very unlikely your will have injured that part.
What you most likely do have is a conjunctival abrasion. The conjunctiva is a sheet of tissue that covers the front of the sclera. Any scratch or cut to this sheet can result in pain and congestion.
I would recommend that you see an ophthalmologist to rule out any deeper injury and get a formal diagnosis. If it is just a conjunctival abrasion this will heal over the next few days. However a short course of antibiotic ointment would be wise to prevent any secondary infection of this area and also to help lubricate your eye to keep it more comfortable.
Regards
Thanks for your question. From what you have described you have scratched the white part of your eye. You are correct that the sclera is located in that area but it is very unlikely your will have injured that part.
What you most likely do have is a conjunctival abrasion. The conjunctiva is a sheet of tissue that covers the front of the sclera. Any scratch or cut to this sheet can result in pain and congestion.
I would recommend that you see an ophthalmologist to rule out any deeper injury and get a formal diagnosis. If it is just a conjunctival abrasion this will heal over the next few days. However a short course of antibiotic ointment would be wise to prevent any secondary infection of this area and also to help lubricate your eye to keep it more comfortable.
Regards
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