If a corneal abrasion injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward
A corneal abrasion injury is a scratch on the eye's cornea, typically occurring after contact with dust, sand, or contact lenses. Abrasions are treated with antibiotic eye drops and pain management.
If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by a corneal abrasion injury, we can help. If your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
You can make a compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.
In this article
Causes of corneal abrasion
Corneal abrasions are caused by foreign objects entering the eye. Common accidents include:
- Metal, wood or debris being flung from work machinery that is not fitted with the proper safety guards
- Being struck by an airbag or other loose objects during a road traffic accident
- Poorly fitted contacts, a result of optician negligence
- Sports injuries, such as being hit in the face with a football, squash ball or shuttlecock
- Chemical burn injuries, which may be due to exposure to hazardous substances at work or splashes from household cleaning products.
See also:
What are the symptoms of corneal abrasion?
The most obvious symptom of a corneal abrasion is the feeling of having grit in the eye. As the eye becomes increasingly irritated, the following symptoms may be experienced:
- Pain and irritation when opening and closing the eye
- Headaches
- Red and watering eyes
- Blood visible in the eye
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurred or double vision.
In some cases, it may be possible to see the object stuck or embedded in the eye.
What is the treatment for corneal abrasion?
The majority of corneal abrasions will clear up on their own, usually within 48 hours. A course of antibiotic eye drops is commonly prescribed to prevent an infection from developing.
More serious injuries to the eye require immediate medical attention. If an object is lodged on the cornea, it must be flushed away before it causes deeper abrasions and permanent scarring of the eyeball.
Without the proper medical care, the patient is at risk of developing a painful eye condition known as recurrent corneal erosion. Recurrent erosions occur when the first injury heals imperfectly and the scratch returns for no apparent reason causing ongoing pain and vision problems.
Am I entitled to make a corneal abrasion injury claim?
In general, you can claim compensation if you were hurt:
- in the last 3 years,
- by someone elses actions or negligence, and
- they owed you a duty of care.
Use our injury claim calculator to find out if you can claim. Or you can call 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor. Find out in minutes if you have a claim.
Am I still eligible to claim if I was partially responsible?
Determining legal responsibility for a claimant's injuries can involve myriad factors.
In our recent 2023 Personal Injury Claimant Survey, 13.99% of respondents believed they may have been partly (or wholly) responsible for their injuries.
Claiming compensation is still an option even if you were partly at fault. These contributory negligence cases are typically resolved with a split-liability agreement.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
How long do I have to start a corneal abrasion injury claim?
An injury claim will usually need to be made within 3 years of the date or your accident or injury.
For injured children, a claim can be started by a parent or guardian at any time before they turn 18. Thereafter, the injured individual has until their 21st birthday to make a claim on their own.
How much compensation can I claim for a corneal abrasion injury?
The amount of money you could claim for your injury will depend on:
- the seriousness of your injury, and
- any financial losses or costs you have incurred.
At the start of your claim, your solicitor will consider the many ways your injuries have affected your life. Your solicitor will take these considerations into account to calculate the correct compensation award.
Corneal abrasion injury
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General damages
General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).
Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Special damages
If it can be proved that your injury left you unable to work, special damages can be awarded for any lost earnings, loss of commission or bonuses, and loss of pension contributions. It may also be possible to claim for loss of future earnings, if the medical prognosis establishes that you won't be able to work for any period in the future.
These damages will also cover the cost of any medical procedures you might need to treat or recover from your corneal abrasion injury such as antibiotic eye drops, pain medication, artificial tears and patching.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
Average corneal abrasion injury general damages compensation
The following corneal abrasion injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, Sixteenth Edition by the Judicial College.
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
| Injury | Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eye injury | |||
| Eye injury | Minor | Temporary eye injury | £2,000 to £3,590 |
| Eye injury | Minor | Minor eye injury | £3,590 to £7,940 |
| Eye injury | Moderate | Minor but permanent loss of vision in one or both eyes | £8,280 to £19,070 |
| Eye injury | Serious | Serious loss of vision in one eye | £21,530 to £35,760 |
| Eye injury | Serious | Complete loss of sight in one eye | £44,790 to £49,850 |
| Eye injury | Severe | Total loss of one eye | £49,850 to £59,740 |
| Eye injury | Severe | Loss of one eye with reduced vision in the other eye | £87,260 to £163,430 |
| Eye injury | Severe | Loss of sight in one eye with deteriorating vision in the other eye | £87,260 to £163,430 |
| Eye injury | Very Severe | Total blindness | Around £244,290 |
| Eye injury | Very Severe | Total blindness and deafness | Around £367,260 |
Can I claim for PTS or other psychological trauma?
If you have suffered psychological harm in addition to a physical injury or illness, you are not alone.
According to our 2023 Personal Injury Claimant Survey shows that 29.03% of potential claimants sustained a psychological injury, 70.97% of which related to a physical injury.
Injuries to the cornea can lead to anxiety about vision and future eye health, and scotomaphobia (fear of blindness) in more serious cases.
Your solicitor will help ensure that any psychological harm you have suffered as the result of another party's negligence is recognised and included in the calculation of your compensation award or settlement. In addition, you can also claim for mental health treatment costs that may not be readily available on the NHS.
Our compensation calculator can estimate your compensation for psychological injuries. Or you can call us on 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor.
What happened?
The process for a corneal abrasion injury claim depends the circumstances of the accident. To learn more, click the icons below:
Injury FAQs
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No win, no fee corneal abrasion injury compensation claims
With no win, no fee, you can claim corneal abrasion injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
How we can help you with your injury claim
Your solicitor will fight for the best possible compensation settlement for you, and the highly-experienced panel of solicitors have an excellent track record of winning injury claims.
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Author:
Jenny Jones, Senior litigator
About the author
With over 20 years' experience in the law, Jenny has spent the last decade specialising in personal injury, with a particular focus on industrial disease cases.