A corneal abrasion is merely a scratch on the surface of the cornea but a corneal laceration is a deep cut. Whether you have a corneal abrasion or a corneal laceration, it is typical to experience sensitivity to light, squinting, redness in the eye, pain and a sensation of a foreign particle in the eye. In addition to other symptoms which exist in the case of a laceration, the extent of the pain would be more severe in a corneal laceration when compared to an abrasion. A corneal abrasion is usually a result of a minor scratch caused by various factors like a fingernail scratching the eye while applying or removing contact lenses. It could also be due to a foreign particle or body in the eye. If you have a particle in your eyes like dust or sand, you might rub your eye continuously and this could lead to an abrasion. On the other hand, a corneal laceration is much deeper than a corneal abrasion. It is mainly caused by a forceful impact on the eye, a high-speed flying object touching the eye or a strike in the eye. Corneal lacerations can be caused by a cut that involves force. It can be easily prevented with the use of protective eyewear even when you are doing heavy work at home, like metal grinding, wood cutting etc. Preserve your vision by reaching out to the nearest hospital when you have a corneal laceration. Protect your eye with a patch and get immediate treatment for the corneal laceration. The treatment would typically include eye surgery to remove a foreign object if relevant and to prevent vision loss.