Ophthalmology Book

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Chemical Eye InjuryAka: Eye Chemical Burn, Ocular Chemical Burn

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  1. Causes
    1. Strong acids and bases
  2. Epidemiology
    1. Common Work-Related Eye Injury
  3. Risk Factors: Most eye damaging agents
    1. Strong bases (pH > 10)
    2. Hydrofluoric acid (semiconductor production)
  4. Symptoms
    1. Severe Eye Pain
    2. Photophobia
    3. Blurred vision
    4. Eye Foreign Body sensation
  5. Signs
    1. Reflex blepharospasm
    2. Conjunctival or Corneal color
      1. Red eye (most common)
      2. White eye suggests severe Eye Injury with ischemia
  6. Management: Immediate Eye Irrigation to Neutral pH
    1. See Eye Irrigation
    2. Immediate and Copious Eye Irrigation for at least 2 liters irrigant over 30 minutes
    3. Do not delay irrigation for exam, contact removal, or sterile fluid
  7. Management: Following Irrigation to neutral pH
    1. Apply Cycloplegic agent (e.g. Scopolamine 0.25%)
    2. Apply broad-spectrum topical antibiotic
    3. Ophthalmology referral in most cases
  8. Resources
    1. Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
      1. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov
  9. References
    1. Lusk (1996) AAOHN J 47:80
    2. Pokhrel (2007) Am Fam Physician 76:829

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