Anyone have a reccurrent corneal abrasion?

katyjarvis40

I badly scratched my cornea back in April and every so often when I wake up, my cornea tears open again.

I have been to the eye hospital a few times and all they said is keep using the drops and it should heal over time. It is costing a fortune for Lacrilube and viscotears and it is really getting me down, it is so very painful when it happens .

Just wondered if anyone else had the same, and did yours ever go away, feel like I'm going to have this forever.

Katy

Savvy_Sue

Sorry don't know anything about this, but when you say it's costing a fortune, if these are available on prescription then would a prepayment certificate help? Or getting more on each prescription? There's a link to an article on prescription costs at the top of this board which would help you get some tips.

jay11_2

My OH had this about 10 years ago, took a few years to heal completley, but became less frequent and less painful, according to him, over time. (It did finally heal completley.

mrsbez_2

Hi, my husband has had this.

When he first got it he would wake up in terrible pain. He has visited the consultant a few times and has tried different potions, like you, the visotears etc. He went about 5 times and he has now been discharged as the attacks have become less frequent. He does still get them every now and again, but nothing like they were at the start.

It has been about 2 and half years since his first one and i can say that they are less frequent and less painful for him. He last had one about 4 weeks ago and it was brief.

Apparently the cornea usually repairs itself very quickly, but for some reason this doesn't happen.

I can only offer you hope that it may become less frequent and less painful. Apart from that, we seemed to hit a brick wall as i don't think there are any cures etc for this condition unless it is very severe and prolonged.

Just out of curiousity, do you know how you damaged yours? My husband was poked in the eye by our daughter, who was a baby at the time. He is also a builder and works with alot of dust, so we didn't know if this played a part aswell.

katyjarvis40

Jay11 - Glad your hubby's cleared up in the end, it is so painful.

mrsbez - I poked myself in the eye with the corner of a cornflakes box (I know!) and I tore off quite a large chunk of cornea. Apparently it takes 16 weeks continuous for it too heal, so if there is an occurance in between the healing process starts all over again, and I never get more than a few weeks before it happens.

Katy

Savvy_Sue

Clearly, cornflakes packets should come with a health warning ...

Hope the gaps between recurrences lengthen!

katyjarvis40

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Clearly, cornflakes packets should come with a health warning ...

Hope the gaps between recurrences lengthen!

I wish they did come with a warning :rotfl: , then I wouldn't fel like someone had been shaving my eye when I woke up!

frivolous_fay

I know this isn't on quite the same scale as significant damage to the cornea... but this helped me. (Although it may not be suitable for those using medication in the eye)

I scratched my eye somehow while on holiday. (Nothing major... I think it was something in my eye.) Blinking hurt... (that is, it hurt to blink, although it did blinking hurt :rotfl:) and every morning it seemed worse.

Wearing my disposable contact lenses shielded my eye from the eyelid, and made it feel a lot more comfortable until it healed properly about a week later.

I suggest confirming this is ok with your doc before trying it!

wishiwasarichgirl

If your cornea is damaged please do not wear contact lenses unless they are specifically advised by the ophthalmologist - you are only risking infection of the damaged area which could lead to much more serious visual problems.
An ophthalmologist will sometimes fit a "bandage" contact lens but only in certain situations, and progress will be monitored.

katyjarvis, i'm an optician but not really supposed to give advice on here (its only for moneysaving tips) but i can only reiterate what the consultant has said, keep using the drops, especially the gel/ointment type one at night before going to bed if it is usually in the morning that it happens.
might also be worth asking a partner or family member to see if you sleep with your eyes partly open (this will make the dryness worse) and if so, stick the eyelid closed with a bit of microporous tape (not sure how comfortable this is, never tried it myself, but some patients have found it beneficial in short-term situations like this)

katyjarvis40

wishiwasarichgirl wrote: »

If your cornea is damaged please do not wear contact lenses unless they are specifically advised by the ophthalmologist - you are only risking infection of the damaged area which could lead to much more serious visual problems.
An ophthalmologist will sometimes fit a "bandage" contact lens but only in certain situations, and progress will be monitored.

katyjarvis, i'm an optician but not really supposed to give advice on here (its only for moneysaving tips) but i can only reiterate what the consultant has said, keep using the drops, especially the gel/ointment type one at night before going to bed if it is usually in the morning that it happens.
might also be worth asking a partner or family member to see if you sleep with your eyes partly open (this will make the dryness worse) and if so, stick the eyelid closed with a bit of microporous tape (not sure how comfortable this is, never tried it myself, but some patients have found it beneficial in short-term situations like this)

I have been offered a bandage contact lens to wear in the past but she also said there was an additional risk of infection so I declined the offer.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Katy

kathy_W

Katy

I have RCE and they say it will never go away but that is because the cornea is not attached properly. I have found if I keep away from any type of dust at home or outside it helps. Also I get the Lacri Lubre on from the doctors and he puts 3 tubes on each prescription for me so it's worth asking.