Scratched Eye

[LaFlottes]

So last night I was taking off some eye make up with my contact lenses still in. I must have pressed too hard as my eye hurt and felt uncomfortable.

I took my lens out and my eye felt worse and has been sore, watery and it’s making my nose run and sinuses feel odd! I think a bit sensitive to bright sunlight too.

I’m wearing my glasses now. It’s still very irritated and sore.

Has anyone had this and does it generally heal by itself? I can get to a pharmacy tomorrow but our opticians doesn’t have any appointments.

would the pharmacy be able to help?

Thanks!

My teenage son had a scratched eye. We took him to an ophthalmologist who said most of the times it will heal itself but to be sure he had antibiotic drops and a check up.

I am always super cautious with eyes... my advice would be to get it checked at your local eye hospital

I had a paper cut on my eye ball once. It was so sore. I found an eye patch helped. I can't recall where I got it from. I didn't seek help but my optometrist friend told me I should have gone to the optician. Was sore for a day or two.

You have a scratched cornea. It may improve on its own, but really it needs anti biotics.

Eye casualty should sort it.

Thanks everyone. I’ve not heard of eye casualty before. Is that part of A&E? I can’t see any listed locally?

I scratched my cornea and went to minor injuries who referred me on to the eye clinic but it did heal on its own (was v painful & at the time).
it should def be looked at though.

primaryeyecare.co.uk/services/urgent-eyecare-service/

NHs does urgent eye care through some opticians now, there is a link to find one near your area for future reference.

I’d maybe phone 111 at this time of night, A & E have been having huge waits. Eye clinic is pretty separate from the main A& E in our area, if that’s the case with yours they may give you a time rather than you waiting in the main A& E for hours.

I had something similar but it was very painful. My daughter scratched my cornea, but even my eyeball moving was incredibly sore.

I got an emergency appointment with an optometrist at an opticians who helped- o had to use antibiotics but she said there were already signs of infection. She did nearly send me to the eye hospital because the scratch was so bad, but luckily, after 2 more appointments, I didn’t need to go.

So I think you could go tomorrow to an emergency appointment- just call in the morning.

do you have a minor injuries nearby? It’ll need some chloramphenicol ointment if it’s scratched. It’s fine to wait till the morning.

I’d try opticians again - especially if it’s worse.
pharmacist could help, but it’s possibly not a scratch, your risk of infection is higher when you wear contact lenses and some of them can be quite nasty.

do your pupils look the same size?

can you manage to post a picture?

Thanks everyone - I called 111 in the end to see what they thought and they have made me an appointment at A&E for 11pm to see someone.

It seemed a bit extreme but it’s very sore and the fact I’m a contact lens wearer seemed to make a difference.

Thanks all - hopefully will nip any infection in the bud and maybe something to make it a little more comfortable!

Glad you are being seen

i dented my eye with some plastic and the pain was the worst ever. Went to A&E and they reopened minors (that had just closed) to treat me

they were really concerned about infection causing permanent damage

hope you are ok and get sorted

Thats good that you get to be seen. Make sure your phone is charged and you have a drink just in case you still have to wait a while. 111 make appts in the a&e by me but there’s no way for the staff to actually see the appts made so everyone just ends up waiting in the same queue.

Thank you! I am in the minor injuries part now waiting. The lights are so bright which isn’t helping and the pain kind of comes in waves.

Probably in for a long wait but I’m glad I came.

@OnTheBoardwalk that sounds very painful too!

@LaFlottes should have added my eye was absolutely fine after lots of antibiotics

hope you aren’t waiting too long. You are in the right place

@OnTheBoardwalk I’m glad to hear your eye was fine in the end 😊

@Nomores I took some ibruprofen at home but it didn’t seem to do anything! There is a sign saying to ask if you need painkillers so I may try some paracetamol soon if I’m still waiting! These bright lights in the waiting area are not my friend!!

When you are triaged, ask for local anaesthetic eye drops. Most oral painkillers won’t work. Good luck, the pain is disgusting!

DS (3) has poked me in the eye and taken a chunk out of my cornea twice! It's so painful. I'd rather give birth again BUT it heals on its own really quickly. The first time my cornea ended up like jelly and I went to the eye injuries unit at the hospital. They gave me antibiotic gel and eye drops. I was screaming with the pain! Within 24 hours I was in minimal pain and by 72 hours was back to normal. The second time he stabbed me with his nail which went in to the cornea. We were on holiday at the time and no access to medical facilities so I just patched it and took a shit load of co codamol. It was fine. I now have scar tissue on my eyeball. Thanks DS

Thank you!
Home now - it’s a small ulcer apparently so I have antibiotics and I did have the anaesthetic drops @figmaofmyimagination which were amazing but sadly it’s wearing off now!

@whoami24601 those incidents sound painful! It’s good to hear they healed fast!

I begged the nurse to let me take the anaesthetic drops home 😳 she told me they inhibit the healing process so thats why not. They wore off in the car and I nearly gave my dad a heart attack when I suddenly started screaming 🤣 glad to hear you're getting sorted. I wouldn't wish cornea damage on my worst enemy honestly x

I was off work for 2 weeks once when l accidentally poured lavender oil in my eye ( don’t ask)

It was excrutiating. Like broken glass.

Oh the anaesthetic drops! They were so amazing!

@Michellexxx @whoami24601 the anaesthetic drops were fabulous! The whole time I was sat there all I could think about was whether I’d be allowed to take them home - was so disappointed when I couldn’t!

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow Lavender oil in the eye sounds excruciating 😣

Luckily the antibiotic drops made a huge difference in 24 hours and I had a follow up at the eye clinic and it’s healing well! Another follow up next week and 4 weeks of no contact lenses!!