Corneal scratches don't need eye patches.(Brief article)

Review of Optometry, May, 2006

Patching corneal abrasions does not reduce pain or improve healing rates on the first day post-injury, according to a study review. Two reviewers examined the results from 11 randomized controlled trials of 1,014 patients who had experienced a simple, uninfected corneal abrasion. In addition to patches, antibiotic drops and ointments were used in some studies.

The reviewers found that patients whose corneal abrasions were not patched experienced faster healing on the first day of treatment. These patients also did not report any differences in pain than patients whose corneal abrasions were patched. The reviewers did not determine any significant differences in healing or pain on days two and three of treatment. "In essentially all cases of...

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