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Date issued: September 2023

Review date: September 2025

Ref: A-590/MS/Ophthalmology/Recurrent Corneal Erosion

PDF:  Recurrent Corneal Erosion final September 2023.pdf [pdf] 89KB

Recurrent Corneal Erosion

What is it?

If the surface of the cornea (the clear front of the eye) is damaged, healing usually occurs within 24 hrs.

However, the healed area remains more delicate than the rest of the cornea for approximately 2-3 months.

During this time the healed area may become disturbed, resulting in pain, watering and light sensitivity similar to the original injury.

This occurs most often on opening the eye after sleep, when the eyelids may stick slightly to the eyeball and may occur repeatedly unless treated.

Treatment  

This depends on the severity of symptoms but may involve one or more of the following:

• Single dose of antibiotic ointment.

• Dilatation of pupil and affected eye may be padded for 24 hours.

• A course of antibiotic ointment.

• Lubricant ointment.

How you can help yourself

To prevent recurrence of symptoms, after initial treatment to heal the damage, use a lubricant ointment each night for 2-3 months.  This is available from the chemist without a prescription.

You may take painkilling tablets that you would normally take for a headache.  Take them as instructed.  Do not take more than the instructions tell you.