A&E patient information leaflet Corneal abrasion A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the clear part of the front of your eye. Abrasions are very painful because there are many nerves that supply the cornea. The pain gets better as your eye heals, but this can take between 24 and 48 hours. If the abrasion involves the central part of your cornea, your vision could also be temporarily affected. Apart from the pain, your eye might be watery, red and sensitive to light. Treatment  If you are given an eye pad, you will need to keep it on for between 12 and 24 hours; if you find this uncomfortable, the pad can be removed and sunglasses can be used  You may take ordinary pain killers, such as paracetamol, to help with the pain  Avoid rubbing or touching your eye  If you wear contact lenses, please do not use them until your eye is completely healed; you need to see your contact lens practitioner after Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust City Road, London EC1V 2PD Phone: 020 7253 3411 www.moorfields.nhs.uk finishing your treatment before wearing your contact lenses again  If you are asked to use drops or ointments, please follow these steps: o Lie down, or lean your head back, and look up o Use a clean finger to gently pull down your lower eyelid to create a pocket o If you are using eye drops, gently squeeze them into the pocket you have created, not directly onto your eye o If you are using ointment, apply a small strip into the pocket o Blink to spread the medication over your eye If your eye becomes increasingly red or painful after treatment or your sight becomes more blurred, you should see an eye doctor again or contact the hospital. Our nurse-led helpline is open during office hours on weekdays. After hours and at weekends, please contact our accident and emergency department via the main switchboard on 020 7253 3411. Author: Dr Claire Daniel Revision number: 2 th Approved 28 June 2013 Review date: June 2014 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust City Road, London EC1V 2PD Phone: 020 7253 3411 www.moorfields.nhs.uk Moorfields Direct telephone helpline Phone: 020 7566 2345 Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm, for information and advice on eye conditions and treatments from experienced ophthalmic-trained nurses. Patient advice and liaison service (PALS) Phone: 020 7566 2324 or 020 7566 2325 Email: pals@moorfields.nhs.uk Moorfields’ PALS team provides confidential advice and support to help Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust City Road, London EC1V 2PD Phone: 020 7253 3411 www.moorfields.nhs.uk you sort out any concerns you may have about the care we provide, guiding you through the different services available at Moorfields. The PALS team can also advise you on how to make a complaint. Your right to treatment within 18 weeks Under the NHS constitution, all patients have the right to start their consultant-led treatment within 18 weeks of being referred by their GP. Moorfields is committed to fulfilling this right, but if you feel that we have failed to do so, please contact our patient advice and liaison service (PALS) who will be able to advise you further – see above for contact details. For more information about your rights under the NHS constitution, please visit www.nhs.uk/choiceinthenhs.