This is a fairly
common condition, which can occur months or even years after an injury
or scratch to the cornea.
It is due to imperfect healing at the time of the original injury, which
leaves a loose area of surface epithelium on the cornea. The area can
dry out while you are asleep and become dislodged by the eyelids when
you open your eyes in the morning.
Signs and symptoms
Severe pain on waking,
redness, watery eye and light sensitivity.
Usually
the symptoms settle very quickly during the day and there is often nothing
abnormal to be seen by the doctor as the epithelium heals so quickly.
The diagnosis is therefore usually made on the story given by the patient.
Treatment
The erosion is initially
treated with an antibiotic ointment and even in severe cases usually heals
within 2-3 days.
A
lubricating ointment is then used last thing at night for several months
to prevent another erosion occurring together with regular lubricating
eye drops during the day. By keeping the cornea and inner surface of the
eyelid lubricated in this way, it prevents the eye drying out and helps
the cornea heal properly.
