# Simple corneal abrasion - Category: chronic - Review status: reviewed (every claim checked against a document named on this page) - Sources: Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023 · AAO Corneal Abrasion Guidelines · Exocin 3 mg/ml Eye Drops SmPC section 4.2 (eMC product 1353) · No labelled dose - a lubricant appliance, not a licensed medicine; instilled as often as comfort needs · Tobramycin 0.3% eye drops SmPC (https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/3120/smpc) · Corneal Abrasion - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - disease-level clinical article (corneal-abrasion-full.txt) · Domingo E, Moshirfar M, Zeppieri M, et al. Corneal Abrasion. [Updated 2024 Jan 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Bookshelf ID NBK532960. - Verified date: 2026-08 ## Verified against - Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023 - Exocin 3 mg/ml Eye Drops SmPC section 4.2 (eMC product 1353) - No labelled dose - a lubricant appliance, not a licensed medicine; instilled as often as comfort needs - Tobramycin 0.3% eye drops SmPC (https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/3120/smpc) - Corneal Abrasion - StatPearls (NBK532960), Treatment / Management - Corneal Abrasion - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - disease-level clinical article (corneal-abrasion-full.txt) - Domingo E, Moshirfar M, Zeppieri M, et al. Corneal Abrasion. [Updated 2024 Jan 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Bookshelf ID NBK532960. ## Treatment metadata - Tobramycin — eye - Ofloxacin — eye - Erythromycin — eye - Sodium hyaluronate — eye ## Complete treatment card ```text SIMPLE CORNEAL ABRASION Sources: Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023 · AAO Corneal Abrasion Guidelines · Exocin 3 mg/ml Eye Drops SmPC section 4.2 (eMC product 1353) · No labelled dose - a lubricant appliance, not a licensed medicine; instilled as often as comfort needs · Tobramycin 0.3% eye drops SmPC (https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/3120/smpc) · Corneal Abrasion - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - disease-level clinical article (corneal- abrasion-full.txt) · Domingo E, Moshirfar M, Zeppieri M, et al. Corneal Abrasion. [Updated 2024 Jan 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Bookshelf ID NBK532960. Review status: REVIEWED against 6 sources listed above (2026-08) IS IT THIS? - reference only, to read alongside your own examination SYMPTOMS - what the patient reports (6) - Trouble getting the eye open, dislike of light and a gritty feeling with pain all point to injury of the cornea [photophobia] - Redness, sensitivity to light, streaming tears and blurred vision go with it [blurred vision · photophobia · redness] - Marked screwing up of the eye is part of the picture - Small fragments from woodwork or metalwork can lodge under the lid and graze the cornea - Usual causes are a poke from a finger or nail, make-up, branches, grit, contact lenses, splashed chemicals, hard rubbing, radiation burns and ingrowing lashes - Injuries to the eye frequently go unmentioned unless you ask SIGNS - what you find (8) - The dye pools in the break and glows green under a cobalt blue lamp - Look for a red bulbar conjunctiva, slight corneal swelling, engorged ciliary vessels and a small pupil [small pupil] - A pupil that is not properly round raises the possibility of a ruptured globe - A hazy cornea means oedema from hard rubbing or damage to epithelium and stroma [corneal changes · oedema] - An opacity or an infiltrate in the cornea suggests an ulcer or infection instead - Blood or pus settled in the front chamber calls for immediate referral to an ophthalmologist [pus] - A graze over the middle of the cornea drops the acuity, and a marked drop warrants specialist referral - Note any abnormality of eye movement TESTS (8) - Staining with fluorescein is the single most useful bedside test - Put anaesthetic in the eye or on the strip, touch it to the conjunctiva; the dye runs off intact cornea and lodges in any break - If pain prevents the patient sitting at the slit lamp, begin with a torch - Topical anaesthetic makes the examination possible - Injury leaves a line-shaped or map-shaped stain - In a lens wearer, scattered pinpoint marks run together into a rounded defect in the middle - A branching pattern of uptake means herpes keratitis and needs treating at once - Upright scratch lines mean something is sitting under the lid, so turn the lids back and look IF NOT THIS - what else fits (8) - Keratoconjunctivitis - Dry eye syndrome - Angle-closure glaucoma of sudden onset - Uveitis, or keratitis from bacteria, fungus or herpes - Ulcer of the cornea - Recurrent erosion syndrome - Neurotrophic exposure keratopathy, or a complication of previous surgery - Ingrowing lashes, and keratitis from ultraviolet light or chemicals Source StatPearls "Corneal Abrasion" - disease-level clinical article Status traced to the source above Rx: Prophylaxis | Contact lens wearer - Pseudomonas cover | Prophylaxis - not obtainable in Egypt | Main treatment PROPHYLAXIS 1. TOBRAMYCIN [1st line] Adult Instill 1-2 drops into affected eye(s) every 4 hours Peds 3 months and over: 1 to 2 drops into affected eye every 4 hours. (Children >2 months: Instill 1-2 drops into affected eye(s) every 4 hours) Source Tobramycin 0.3% eye drops SmPC (https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/3120/smpc) Why Prophylactic topical antibiotic to prevent bacterial keratitis while epithelium heals Caution CONTACT LENS WEARERS REQUIRE PSEUDOMONAS COVER (e.g. ofloxacin or levofloxacin) and MUST NOT wear lenses until 24 hours after full epithelial closure. NEVER prescribe topical anesthetic drops (tetracaine/benoxinate) for outpatient home use (causes rapid corneal melting and permanent blindness). Do NOT patch the eye if contact-lens-related or organic/plant material injury (high infection risk). RED FLAG - Topical corticosteroid drops must never be used on a corneal abrasion - they delay healing and increase the risk of infection. An irregularly shaped pupil after eye trauma suggests globe rupture and needs immediate ophthalmology involvement. RED FLAG - Aminoglycoside eye drops should be avoided in patients who do not wear contact lenses. Evert both eyelids before concluding the examination - a retained subtarsal foreign body typically produces vertical linear corneal scratches. Branching, dendritic fluorescein staining is herpes keratitis rather than a simple abrasion and needs immediate treatment. RED FLAG - Do not patch an uncomplicated minor traumatic or foreign-body corneal abrasion. Inspect the anterior chamber for blood in it (hyphema) at the first examination. Any significant reduction in visual acuity requires referral to an ophthalmologist. RED FLAG - Purulent discharge, or a drop in vision of more than one to two Snellen lines, is an indication for urgent ophthalmology referral. RED FLAG - A child who is still unwilling to open the injured eye 24 hours later needs urgent ophthalmology referral. Egypt SWIXTOBRAM 0.3% EYE DROPS 5 ML CHEMIPHARM 6.50 EGP T GRAND 0.3% EYE DROPS 5 ML DELTA GRAND P... 7.00 EGP TOBRAL 0.3% EYE DROPS 5 ML KAHIRA 7.00 EGP TOBRACTIVA 0.3% EYE DROPS 5 ML EPCI 18.00 EGP AVAZIR 0.3% EYE DROPS 10 ML ORCHIDIA PHAR... 28.00 EGP TOBREX 0.3% EYE DROPS 5 ML NOVARTIS > NO... 32.50 EGP TOBRIN 0.3% EYE.OINT. 5 GM EIPICO 23.00 EGP AVAZIR 0.3% EYE OINT. 5 GM ORCHIDIA PHAR... 26.00 EGP CONTACT LENS WEARER - PSEUDOMONAS COVER 2. OFLOXACIN [1st line] Adult 1-2 drops into the affected eye every 2-4 hours for the first 2 days, then 4 times daily. Never longer than 10 days. x 5-7 days, maximum 10 Peds For all ages (1 year and older): one to two drops in the affected eye(s) every two to four hours for the first two days and then four times daily. Safety and effectiveness in infants below the age of one year have not been established. Source Exocin 3 mg/ml Eye Drops SmPC section 4.2 (eMC product 1353) Why For a contact lens wearer, where the organism to fear is Pseudomonas. Drops cost 6 EGP, so there is no reason to compromise on cover. Caution The label warns of corneal perforation when a fluoroquinolone drop is used on an eye with an epithelial defect - which is what an abrasion is. Review the eye, and refer if it is not healing. A contact lens wearer with an abrasion does not go back into lenses until the eye is healed and reviewed. Refer same day for any white infiltrate, hypopyon, or vision that is getting worse - that is keratitis, not an abrasion. Recommended that EXOCIN not be used in pregnant women. Egypt QUIFLURO 0.3% EYE DROPS 5 ML PHAROPHARMA 6.00 EGP OFLOXIN 0.3% EYE DROPS 5 ML KAHIRA 7.00 EGP OFLOXACIN 0.3% EYE DROPS 10 ML SIGMA TEC 7.50 EGP OFLICIN 0.3% EYE DROPS 5 ML MEMPHIS 8.00 EGP OFLOSWIX 0.3% EYE DROPS 5 ML CHEMIPHARM 12.00 EGP OCUFLOX 0.3% EYE DROPS 5 ML ALEXANDRIA 19.50 EGP OPTIFLOX 0.3% EYE DROPS 5 ML JAMJOOM PHARM... 19.50 EGP OFLOX 0.3% EYE DROPS 5 ML ALLERGAN > SO... 20.40 EGP PROPHYLAXIS - NOT OBTAINABLE IN EGYPT 3. ERYTHROMYCIN [1st line] Adult Erythromycin ointment, 4 times a day across the 5 days, for a patient who does not wear contact lenses. x 5 days Peds 30-50 mg/kg/day [child max 2000 mg] (General dosing, susceptible infection: Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Oral: Base, ethylsuccinate, stearate: 30 to 50 mg/kg/day divided every 6 to 8 hours usually; for severe infection may double dose; maximum daily dose: Mild to moderate infection: 2,000 mg/day; severe infection: 4,000 mg/day.) 3kg -> 90-150 mg/day 4kg -> 120-200 mg/day 5kg -> 150-250 mg/day 6kg -> 180-300 mg/day 7kg -> 210-350 mg/day 8kg -> 240-400 mg/day 9kg -> 270-450 mg/day 10kg -> 300-500 mg/day 11kg -> 330-550 mg/day 12kg -> 360-600 mg/day 13kg -> 390-650 mg/day 14kg -> 420-700 mg/day 15kg -> 450-750 mg/day 16kg -> 480-800 mg/day 17kg -> 510-850 mg/day 18kg -> 540-900 mg/day 19kg -> 570-950 mg/day 20kg -> 600-1000 mg/day 21kg -> 630-1050 mg/day 22kg -> 660-1100 mg/day 23kg -> 690-1150 mg/day 24kg -> 720-1200 mg/day 25kg -> 750-1250 mg/day 26kg -> 780-1300 mg/day 27kg -> 810-1350 mg/day 28kg -> 840-1400 mg/day 29kg -> 870-1450 mg/day 30kg -> 900-1500 mg/day 31kg -> 930-1550 mg/day 32kg -> 960-1600 mg/day 33kg -> 990-1650 mg/day 34kg -> 1020-1700 mg/day 35kg -> 1050-1750 mg/day 36kg -> 1080-1800 mg/day 37kg -> 1110-1850 mg/day 38kg -> 1140-1900 mg/day 39kg -> 1170-1950 mg/day 40kg -> 1200-2000 mg/day 41kg -> 1230-2000 mg/day (upper capped) 42kg -> 1260-2000 mg/day (upper capped) 43kg -> 1290-2000 mg/day (upper capped) 44kg -> 1320-2000 mg/day (upper capped) 45kg -> 1350-2000 mg/day (upper capped) 46kg -> 1380-2000 mg/day (upper capped) 47kg -> 1410-2000 mg/day (upper capped) 48kg -> 1440-2000 mg/day (upper capped) 49kg -> 1470-2000 mg/day (upper capped) 50kg -> 1500-2000 mg/day (upper capped) Source Corneal Abrasion - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - disease-level clinical article (corneal-abrasion-full.txt) for the topical ointment regimen; the systemic paediatric figures are from Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023 (erythromycin monograph), Dosing: Pediatric, general dosing: "Oral: Base, ethylsuccinate, stearate: 30 to 50 mg/kg/day divided every 6 to 8 hours usually; for severe infection may double dose; maximum daily dose: Mild to moderate infection: 2,000 mg/day; severe infection: 4,000 mg/day". Why Topical antibiotic ointment providing antibiotic cover and ocular lubrication for simple corneal abrasion in non-contact lens wearers. Caution Erythromycin is not obtainable in Egypt in this form. Every erythromycin eye product is absent from the national product list entirely, all 16 oral products are marked withdrawn, and the only three live topical products are acne preparations. Prescribe tobramycin or ofloxacin eye drops instead - both are stocked and cover the same job, tobramycin for a patient who does not wear lenses, ofloxacin for one who does. For non-contact lens wearers only; contact lens wearers require anti-pseudomonal coverage (e.g. fluoroquinolone or aminoglycoside). Re-evaluate if symptoms persist beyond 3 days. Egypt AKNEMYCIN 2% OINT. 15 GM MUP > HERMAL-... 5.00 EGP -> ? different route - not eye, discontinued ACNI-CARE 2% TOP. GEL. 20 GM SIGMA 6.50 EGP -> ? different route - not eye, discontinued ERYTHROCID 200 MG/5ML SUSP. 60ML CID 5.60 EGP -> ? different route - not eye, discontinued ERYTHROMYCIN PHARCO 200MG/5ML SUSP. 60ML PHARCO 7.50 EGP -> ? different route - not eye, discontinued AKNEMYCIN 2% SOLUTION 25 ML MUP > HERMAL-... 9.00 EGP -> ? different route - not eye, discontinued ETHYRONATE 200MG/5ML SUSP. 100 ML UNIPHARMA CO. > UNIPHARMA 9.50 EGP -> ? different route - not eye, discontinued ETHYRONATE 400MG/5ML SUSP. 100 ML UNIPHARMA CO. > UNIPHARMA 11.75 EGP -> ? different route - not eye, discontinued ACNI-CARE 2% LOTION 25 ML SIGMA 20.00 EGP -> ? different route - not eye, discontinued MAIN TREATMENT - give alongside 4. SODIUM HYALURONATE [add-on - not a substitute] Adult Instill preservative-free lubricating drops 1-2 drops every 2-4 hours as needed for comfort x 3-5 days Peds Preservative-free lubricating drops as needed Source No labelled dose - a lubricant appliance, not a licensed medicine; instilled as often as comfort needs Why Promotes epithelial re-surfacing and reduces eyelid friction Caution Re-evaluate within 24-48 hours if pain worsens, photophobia increases, or vision degrades. Sodium hyaluronate drops are sold as an appliance rather than a licensed medicine, so no regulator has set a dose for them. Use them as often as the eye needs and judge by comfort. Egypt LUBRIVISC 0.1% EYE DROPS 10 ML RAMEDA > HIKM... 32.00 EGP HYALUGRAND 0.2% EYE DROPS 10 ML DELTA GRAND P... 41.00 EGP HYALOPTIC 0.2% EYE DROPS 10 ML PHARCO 48.00 EGP HYFRESH 0.2% EYE DROPS 10 ML JAMJOOM PHARM... 75.00 EGP XILOIAL MONO EYE DROPS 20 RE-CLOSABLE VIALS * 0.5 ML FARMIGEA > HABIB SC... 265.00 EGP VISMED MULTI 0.18% EYE DROPS 10 ML TRB CHEMEDICA SA > RHEUMA 335.00 EGP VISMED 0.3% EYE GEL 20 X 0.45 ML SDU TRB CHEMEDICA SA > RHEUMA 390.00 EGP VISMED MULTI 0.3% EYE GEL 10 ML TRB CHEMEDICA... 390.00 EGP Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy. ``` --- Dawaa Reference is a reference for prescribers, not a medical device, and does not replace clinical judgement. [Privacy policy](/privacy)