Is it possible to get a scratched cornea without realizing?

Is it possible to get a scratched cornea without realizing?
Added (1). I woke up this morning and noticed a small irritated area on my eye, right against the edge of the iris. I thought it was just an irritation until later when I went to take my contact lenses out and on that eye it felt like the lens was still there. The seemingly-irritated area is still there. I don't feel anything, and didn't feel anything overnight when the scratch, or whatever happened, must have occurred.

My symptoms don't match up with those of a corneal abrasion, so what else might it be?

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