I was hiking and I scratched my eye with a branch, I should just wait for it to heal right???

Scratches can be really painful on the surface of the eye; excessive blinking, tearing, photophobia (light sensitive), redness and pain are the key symptoms.  The absolute most common I've seen is the sharp end of a paper/cardboard hitting a patient's unsuspecting eye. Bomb!  Immediate reactions will be closing the eye, palm covers the eye, and you’ll shout a profanity.  If it's a small abrasion the cornea (transparent surface) will repair itself within 9 hours or so.  Sometimes it's not small.   

When a corneal abrasion occurs foreign bodies (bacteria, fungus, viruses, parasites) are immediately introduced into deep, more sensitive tissue.  Fungus/parasites lives on most outdoor vegetation, bacteria lives on most inanimate objects, and viruses can be found just about anywhere.  Bacteria are easily controlled with antibiotic ointments given to you by your eye care professional.  Viruses also have treatments even though they never resolve (ie. ocular herpes); they can be managed.  Fungus and parasites however is another group of monsters that can completely erode your eye within hours. Therefore it's extremely important to know what actually poked your eye.

Most doctors will suggestion medical ointments for these sorts of injuries, for about 1 week.  However the most important healing will occur within two months time after the injury, PAY ATTENTION this is where everyone gets lazy.  The eye care professional will instruct a lubricating ointment (once before bed for two months) to be used once the medicated ointment schedule is done.  The superficial (meaning on the surface) abrasion will heal very quickly once you medicate, usually within 3 days and you start to feel completely healed. You must realize there is reason for some insanity in medicine; the deeper tissue takes much longer to heal.  The non-medicated lubricant will create a barrier between your corneal tissue (still repairing) and eyelid.  Let's say you drank a little extra one night, as you know your body dehydrates and by morning not only is your mouth dry but so are your eyes.  The eyelid can attach to the cornea and re-lift that almost healed abrasion.  There a medical term for it; recurring corneal erosion.  This WILL happen and your eye with the scratch will become a permanent recurring issue within your lifetime.  Take this warning and follow the directions of your doctor to allow full healing, it's really takes about two months. So put that greasy gel in your affected eye and know you are saving yourself some serious pain.  

See and Be Seen! at Eyed LA Optometry in Brentwood, West Los Angeles

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