Posted by: Albany Cornea | Center For Eye Care Excellence in Eye Care

Your cornea is prone to injuries and infections that can threaten your eye health and sight. These issues can happen unexpectedly and cause bothersome and painful symptoms.

By knowing which signs signal an emergency, you can act quickly and protect your precious eyes. Keep reading to learn more about 7 signs your cornea needs immediate medical attention!

What is the Cornea?

The cornea is the transparent, dome-shaped structure at the front of your eye. It helps to refract or bend incoming light accurately so that it lands precisely on the retina for clear, sharp vision.

It also keeps germs, dust, debris, and other foreign objects out of your eye. Because the cornea is at the front of your eye, it’s susceptible to injuries and damage.

What are the Signs Your Cornea Needs Medical Attention Right Away?

You should seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following:

1. Sudden Eye Pain

A problem with your cornea is one of the most common causes of eye pain. Eye pain can happen abruptly and may be severe and sharp.

The pain can also be described as a stabbing, burning, aching, or throbbing sensation around or in your eyes. It may occur in one or both eyes.

If you experience sudden or severe eye pain, contact your eye doctor or head to the emergency room right away. Delays in treatment can result in serious complications.

2. Severe Sensitivity to Light

Photophobia or light sensitivity is an intolerance to light, including artificial light and sunlight. When you’re sensitive to light, you may squint, close your eyes, or feel intense discomfort or pain on exposure.

You may even find yourself avoiding bright lights, keeping your home dim, and turning down the brightness on your computer or phone when your photophobia is severe. Streetlights and headlights from oncoming vehicles can also be bothersome or blinding, particularly when driving at night.

Severe light sensitivity can be a symptom of a serious corneal injury or condition. If you’re experiencing severe light sensitivity, contact your eye doctor or go to the emergency room without delay.

3. Excessive Eye Discharge

It’s normal to have some eye goop, particularly in the morning. However, excessive or persistent eye discharge can be a sign of a more serious condition.

Sometimes, eye discharge may occur with other symptoms like impaired vision, redness, and pain. If you have unusual eye discharge, contact your eye doctor to ensure your condition doesn’t cause long-term complications.

4. Blurred Vision

Blurry vision means that your vision isn’t sharp. As a result, objects and people can appear out of focus.

You may find yourself rubbing your eyes or blinking repeatedly in an attempt to see clearly. A problem with your cornea can abruptly cause blurred vision.

Along with blurry vision, you may have other symptoms such as redness, eye pain, and light sensitivity. All these symptoms could signal a serious eye condition that needs urgent medical attention to prevent damaging complications.

5. Foreign Body Sensation

When you have a foreign body sensation, it may feel like there’s something in your eye. You may also experience discomfort, excess tearing, eye pain, or excessive blinking.

This feeling can happen due to different reasons, including a scratch on your cornea. If you’re experiencing ongoing or considerable discomfort, don’t ignore your symptoms.

Seek medical help immediately. Prompt treatment can help you avoid complications.

6. Eye Redness

Eye redness is usually caused by dilated or swollen blood vessels that make the surface of your eyes look bloodshot or red. On their own, red eyes are often nothing to worry about.

But if the redness doesn’t go away or is accompanied by other symptoms such as eye pain, sensitivity to light, and discharge from the eye, it could indicate a more serious issue with your cornea that requires medical care.

7. White Spot on the Eye

A white spot on your eye could be a corneal ulcer. A corneal ulcer is considered a medical emergency.

Without prompt treatment, it can spread throughout your eye, causing fast vision loss. If you notice a white spot on your eye, seek professional care quickly. Immediate action can preserve your sight.

What’s Causing Your Symptoms?

Your symptoms could be caused by:

A Corneal Abrasion

A scratch on your cornea is known as a corneal abrasion. There are many causes of corneal abrasion.

It can happen if you overwear contact lenses, poke your eye with a makeup brush or fingernail, get foreign particles such as sawdust or sand in your eye, or rub your eyes vigorously. Left untreated, the scratch may become an infection and cause extensive damage.

Signs of a corneal abrasion include:

  • Eye pain
  • Foreign body sensation
  • Blurred vision
  • Light sensitivity
  • Red eyes

Corneal Laceration

A corneal laceration is a cut on your cornea that requires urgent care. It’s deeper than a corneal abrasion and can cut partially or fully through your cornea.

Corneal lacerations can be caused by objects entering your eye at high speeds, such as sand, dust, or dirt. With a corneal laceration, you may experience symptoms such as:

  • Severe eye pain
  • Blurred vision
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Heavy discharge
  • A feeling of having something in the eye

In advanced cases, corneal lacerations may require a corneal transplant.

Corneal Ulcer

A corneal ulcer is an open sore that develops on your cornea. It’s often a result of an infection with viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi.

Corneal ulcers can also be caused by scratches on your cornea, foreign bodies in your eye, or leaving contact lenses in overnight. See your eye doctor right away if you suspect you have a corneal ulcer.

Corneal ulcers can cause significant and lasting damage to your eyesight and even lead to blindness without timely treatment.

Symptoms of a corneal ulcer include:

  • A white spot on the cornea
  • Eye redness
  • Eye discharge
  • Severe pain
  • Blurred vision
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Foreign body sensation

Trusted, Top-Rated Cornea Specialists

At Center For Eye Care Excellence, our corneal specialists have the cutting-edge technology, expertise, and experience required to treat a wide range of corneal injuries and conditions and preserve your vision.

Do you have any of the symptoms or signs described above? Schedule an appointment at the Center for Eye Care Excellence in Albany, NY, today. Early diagnosis and treatment can help save your sight.