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The Cornea’s Natural Self-Healing Capabilities Small superficial scrapes or scratches to the cornea, called a corneal abrasion have extraordinary self-healing properties. This happens because the outermost layer of the cornea is comprised mostly of epithelial cells and they replace themselves very quickly. The repair of minor abrasions takes place within 24/72 hours, depending on the size and deepness125.
Healing Process
The body starts the healing process almost immediately after an injury happens. The epithelium (a layer of thin tissue) on the surface of the cornea heals fast to cover the area wounded by the scratch. Rubbing of the eyes should be avoided during this period, as it may compromise the delicate newly established layer of cells and still potentially result in other complications34.
Symptoms and Care
Although the majority of scratches are not serious and will not harm your vision, they may cause pain and symptoms such as redness, mild sensitivity to light and tearing if left untreated. For comfort to reduce the symptoms of healing, some may opt for utilizing an eyepatch on their injured eye, although current studies indicate it does not provide meaningful improvements to the recovery process and can even serve to further discomfort these patients68. If anything, keep the eye clean and do not use contact lenses until the cornea is fully recovered25.
When to Seek Help
Appropriate, new-onset infectious conjunctivitis can respond to self-care within a couple of days but if it persists or worsens, it is recommended to seek professional eye care. They Offer Treatments Like Antibiotic Drops Or Pain Relief That Help To Avoid Infection And Ensure That The Process Tracks Properly 17. All in all, only minor scratches of the cornea are largely self-healing, but adequate care and observation are necessary for proper healing.