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Eye patch makes little difference in corneal abrasion healing rates
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Eye patching made no difference in the rate of healing in children with corneal abrasions in a study here. No difference was found in levels of discomfort and most aspects of daily living.
Researchers here conducted a randomized trial of patients between the ages of 3 and 17 years who were diagnosed with isolated corneal abrasion. Seventeen patients were given an eye patch; 18 received no eye patch. Of the patients, 86% healed by 95% or more at follow-up. No significant difference was seen in the two groups' healing rates, even when adjusted for age and initial abrasion size. There was also no difference in the number of pain medication doses required between the two groups. The only significant differences between the two groups was in walking difficulty, with children using eye patches having more trouble adjusting.
The study is published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.