Corneal Foreign Bodies and Abrasions
Vision?
If the visual axis is involved, vision will be reduced.
Stickiness?
No, but usually marked epiphoria (watering eye).
Laterality?
Unilateral
Pain?
Can be extremely painful, resulting in marked blepharospasm and difficulty in opening the eyes. Patients will feel they have a foreign body in their eye.
Visual acuity?
If the central corneal epithelium is lost in the abrasion, the vision will be reduced to approximately 6/12.
Where is the redness?
The limbal vasculature will be engorged.
Stain on cornea?
Yes
Pupil?
Normal
Is the cornea clear?
In the staining area (i.e., where the corneal epithelium has been rubbed off) the underlying corneal stroma will retain its clarity. If the area under and around the abrasion is white-ish, this may indicate an infective keratitis.
Conjunctival appearance?
Normal