Chemical injuries of eye—A review of 75 cases from West Mal.docVIP

Chemical injuries of eye—A review of 75 cases from West Mal 　【摘要】 　　To determine the nature of chemicals involved, type of occupation most at risk, severity of ocular injury, complications and visual outcome in patients with chemical injuries of eye.METHODS: In a retrospective study gender, age, race, occupation of patients, nature of chemical, eye involved, vision at admission, severity of ocular injury, complications and visual outcome were noted from the case records. RESULTS: Among 75 patients reviewed 90.3% of patients were males; 84% were in the working age group (21-50 years); 29.3% were factory workers; 52% suffered from alkali injuries; 65.4% were factory/construction workers; 57.3% had both eyes involvement; 9.3% of the affected eyes had vision lt;6/60 at admission; 72% of injuries were of grade I nature; 19.5% of the affected eyes developed complications such as dry eye, vascularization of cornea, corneal opacity, complicated cataract, secondary glaucoma etc.; final outcome of vision 6/18 or better was achieved in 92% of eyes; blindness was noted in 6.2% of the affected eyes. CONCLUSION: Even though chemical injuries commonly involve both eyes, in majority of them they are mild in nature with good visual outcome. Immediate copious irrigation of the eye will help in reducing the severity of chemical injury. Appropriate emergency treatment will reduce the long term complications and visual impairment. However, severe chemical burns of the eye can result in blindness in some cases. 【关键词】 chemical injuries; acid burns; alkali burns; complications; blindness 　　INTRODUCTION Chemical burns of the eye represent a significant proportion of ocular injuries in ophthalmic practice requiring emergency treatment. If not, they may produce extensive damage to the ocular surface and result in visual impairment. In some severe cases they may penetrate into the eye damaging the anterior segment structures resulting in complications. Most of the injuries with acids tend