Effectiveness of patching and non-patching in treatment of corneal abrasion: A comparative study

Abstract

The aim was to compare the effectiveness between patching and non-patching in the treatment of non-infected, non-contact lens related traumatic corneal abrasions, as well as of abrasions following foreign body removal. Materials and Methods: A prospective, controlled, randomized study on 100 patients over 1 year who presented with ocular pain, with a history of trauma or foreign body removal & had corneal abrasion on fluorescein stain. Patients were randomized into two groups: with patch group (receiving an eye patch with topical antibiotics) and no patch group (topical antibiotics with no eye patch) and patients were followed up. Results: Patients with corneal abrasions healed significantly faster and relieved symptomatically in the no patch group. Conclusion:We conclude that routine use of eye patching is not effective in the healing of simple corneal abrasion.