A corneal abrasion—a scratch on the eye’s surface—might seem minor initially, but can lead to serious complications if not properly treated. When these injuries occur due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to claim compensation. Successful claims typically secure between £2,450 for minor cases to over £25,600 for injuries causing permanent complications.
Understanding Corneal Abrasions and Your Rights
Corneal abrasions occur when something scratches the surface of your eye. Common causes include workplace debris, contact lenses, or foreign objects during road accidents. While many heal within days, some develop complications like recurring erosion syndrome or infections that can permanently affect vision.
The symptoms
The most common symptom of a corneal abrasion injury is the feeling of a sharp scratch in the eye when blinking. Many of our claimants report a feeling as if grit or sand is within the eye, which can become increasingly irritated until medical attention has been sought. Other symptoms include:
- Redness and swelling to the eye area
- Bloodshot eyes
- Blood visible within the eye
- Pain and increased irritation when opening the eye
- Watering of the eye
- Blurred and double vision
- Headaches and dizziness
The impact extends beyond physical pain. Many victims face weeks off work, struggle with daily activities, and develop anxiety about permanent eye damage. When these injuries result from negligence—whether through unsafe working conditions, road accidents, or hazardous public spaces—you deserve compensation for both immediate and long-term effects.
Eligibility to Claim
To succeed with a corneal abrasion claim, you must prove another party’s negligence caused your injury. This might be an employer failing to provide proper eye protection, debris flying into your eye, or a business leaving hazardous materials exposed. Claims must typically begin within three years of the injury, though exceptions exist for minors or those lacking mental capacity.
Causes of Corneal Abrasion Leading to Claims
Corneal abrasions are commonly caused by foreign objects entering the eye and scratching the surface of the cornea, for example:
- Chemical burns to the eye as a result of exposure to substances hazardous to health in the workplace or chemical cleaning product faults
- Debris such as metal particles entering the eye in workplaces where machinery is not fitted with adequate safety guards, or where the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has not been provided by the employer
- Foreign objects entering the eye in a road traffic accident
- Optician negligence
- Sporting incidents
In many cases, the foreign object causing the corneal abrasion can be seen and will need to be removed, either in hospital or by use of an eye irrigation product found within first aid kits.
Medical evidence forms the cornerstone of successful claims. A&E records, ophthalmologist reports, and ongoing treatment notes help establish both the injury’s cause and its impact. Particularly valuable are specialist reports linking the abrasion to specific incidents and detailing any long-term prognosis.
Understanding Compensation: What Your Claim Covers
Corneal abrasion settlements address both immediate suffering and long-term consequences. Minor injuries with full recovery within weeks typically secure £2,450–£8,700. These cases involve temporary pain and brief work absences, often resolved with antibiotic drops. Moderate injuries, where symptoms like light sensitivity persist for months, attract £8,700–£16,300. This range accounts for prolonged discomfort and the psychological toll of disrupted routines.
Severe cases involving complications like recurring corneal erosions or permanent vision changes often exceed £16,300. One claimant received £25,600 after developing chronic pain requiring lifelong lubricating treatments and workplace adaptations. Compensation here reflects not just medical bills but the profound lifestyle shifts necessitated by permanent sensitivity to light or blurred vision.
Financial losses (termed “special damages”) form a critical component. Beyond immediate medical costs, settlements factor in:
- Future surgeries and rehabilitation
- Lost earnings and pension contributions
- Home modifications for permanent disabilities
- Professional care costs
- Psychological treatment
- Travel expenses for medical appointments
Three factors significantly influence payouts:
- Infection complications, which increase settlements by 30–50% due to extended treatment needs.
- Occupation impact, with tradespeople like welders or mechanics often securing higher sums due to career disruption.
- Psychological trauma, where anxiety about vision loss adds £3,000–£7,000, validated through psychiatric reports.
Example Compensation Amounts
| Severity of injury | Compensation amount |
|---|---|
| Total blindness | £252k |
| Loss of sight in one eye with reduced vision in the other eye | £60k – £169k |
| Total loss of one eye | £51k – £62k |
| Complete loss of sight in one eye | £46k – £51k |
| Serious, but incomplete loss of vision in one eye | £22k – £37k |
| Minor but permanent impairment of vision in one eye | £9k – £20k |
| Minor eye injuries, e.g being struck in the eye, exposure to fumes, smoke or liquid causing pain and temporary interference with vision | £4k – £8k |
| Transient eye injuries with recovery within a few weeks | £2k – £4k |
The Claims Process: From Injury to Settlement
Securing fair compensation for a corneal abrasion requires careful attention to detail from day one. The moment of injury marks the start of your claim’s timeline. Immediate medical attention not only ensures proper treatment but creates vital documentation. Emergency room records detailing the abrasion’s severity, along with photographs of any visible damage or foreign bodies, form crucial evidence.
Your next steps significantly impact your claim’s strength. Reporting the incident properly—whether to an employer, local authority, or police—creates an official record linking your injury to specific circumstances. For workplace accidents, the accident book entry should detail exactly how debris entered your eye and whether appropriate safety measures were in place.
Medical evidence proves particularly crucial in corneal abrasion cases. Unlike broken bones, eye injuries often lack visible external signs, making specialist reports essential. An ophthalmologist’s assessment carries significant weight, especially when documenting complications like recurring erosion syndrome or infection risks.
Time matters in eye injury claims. CCTV footage typically deletes after 30 days, witnesses’ memories fade, and physical evidence disappears. Early legal advice helps preserve crucial evidence. Your solicitor will:
- Request preservation of CCTV footage
- Gather witness statements while memories remain fresh
- Secure workplace maintenance records or risk assessments
- Arrange specialist medical examinations
Documenting your recovery journey strengthens your claim. Keep a detailed diary noting:
- Pain levels and vision changes
- Impact on daily activities
- Medication needs
- Medical appointments
- Work absences
Insurance companies often challenge corneal abrasion claims, arguing injuries are minor or unrelated to the accident. Our experience shows several effective counter-strategies:
When employers claim adequate safety measures existed, we investigate training records, risk assessments, and previous incident reports. If public liability insurers dispute hazard awareness, we examine maintenance schedules and complaint histories.
Medical complications require careful handling. If infection develops weeks after the initial injury, establishing causation becomes crucial. Expert medical testimony helps link these complications directly to the original injury, ensuring your compensation reflects all consequences.
No Win No Fee Explained
Navigating a corneal abrasion claim under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) ensures you can pursue justice without upfront costs. These “No Win No Fee” arrangements mean your solicitor covers all initial expenses, including medical assessments (£800–£2,500) and court fees, recovering costs only if your claim succeeds. Post-2012 legal reforms cap success fees at 25% of your compensation, ensuring you retain the majority of your settlement.
Should your claim fail, After The Event (ATE) insurance—arranged by your solicitor—covers opponent legal costs, eliminating financial risk. This system prioritises your recovery while experts handle negotiations, evidence gathering, and medical liaison.
Taking Action: Your Next Steps
Time limits apply to corneal abrasion claims. While three years might seem generous, building a comprehensive case takes time. Starting early ensures:
- All evidence is preserved
- Witness statements are collected promptly
- Medical assessments capture full injury impact
- Negotiations begin from a position of strength
Our specialist team understands eye injury claims’ complexities. We’ve secured substantial settlements for victims across the UK, ensuring compensation reflects both immediate and long-term impacts.
With Direct2Compensation, starting your claim for corneal abrasion injury compensation couldn’t be easier. We appreciate that you may have questions about the claims process and will be concerned as to how a claim could affect your relationship with your employer. We’ll be able to put your mind at rest about these and any other queries in simple, layman’s terms.
Our specialist team understand your rights, and we’ll only need a couple of minutes of your time to ascertain whether or not the cause of your corneal abrasion injury will merit a successful claim for compensation.
Simply call our offices on 01225 430285 or we can .
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