Corneal abrasion from removing face mask during the COVID-19 pandemic

Collateral damage: Corneal injury due to mask use during the COVID-19 pandemic - A case series

“…As face mask wearing is an important way of minimizing the spread of COVID-19, all health care workers wear N95 masks within clinical areas. One should adapt to the present pandemic situation and aim to avoid edges of the face mask injuring the cornea while removing or adjusting the mask[ 6 ] as they can cause injury, as elaborated in the cases described. Sleep masks are known to be a cause of recurrent epithelial erosions.…”

Face mask use and effects on the ocular surface health: A comprehensive review

“…Face mask use might also increase the incidence of corneal epithelial damage due to direct trauma [ 55 , 56 ]. Their corners and the corrugated side edges are all potential sharp points that could lacerate the corneal surface [ 57 ]. For example, a 51-year-old man with no previous ocular history attended the emergency department for left eye immediate pain, tearing and foreign body sensation after face mask removal.…”

“…The patient referred that his left eye had been scratched by the sharp edge of the face mask upon removal. Examination showed a corneal abrasion, without corneal infiltration which healed with hypromellose eye drops with full recovery [ 57 ]. In a single-center retrospective case series in China, nine patients had a unilateral ocular injury due to face masks [ 58 ].…”

Eyecare of healthcare workers while using personal protective equipment during COVID-19 pandemic

“…The occurrence of corneal ulcer has been documented in literature to occur especially while removing PPE. [ 2 ]…”