Ocular Chemical Burns

Both acidic and alkaline substances can cause serious corneal and conjunctival damage. While all but the most trivial of exposures require copious (liters) of irrigation, alkaline substances are particularly notable for causing deep burns. Ammonia (fertilizer and household cleaners) is one of the most aggressive alkaline substances, followed by lye (drain cleaners), lime (plaster, cement), and magnesium hydroxide. A detailed ophthalmologic examination is generally deferred until after irrigation has normalized the eye pH.

Causes

• Thermal burns may cause by the hot substances such as includes curling irons, hot curlers, cigarettes, hot liquids.
• Fire may also cause burns to the face and eyes.
• Chemical burns are caused by being doused or splashed with a harsh acid or alkaline chemical. These chemicals may burn the skin just like a fire or hot surface.

Symptoms

• Pain following history of exposure
• Decreased vision (depending on extent of injury)

Signs

• Conjunctival erythema, edema
• Decreased visual acuity
• Corneal clouding in severe burns
• Stromal whitening in severe burns
• Increased lOP in alkali burns

Treatment

• You should begin washing your eye before taking any other action and continue for at least 10 minutes. The longer a chemical is in your eye, the more damage will occur.
• For the treatment you can use immediate therapy, it which therapy doctors likely will continue washing your eye. Usually, doctors use at least 1 liter of fluid and it depending on the type of chemical involved, then the doctor may test the pH of your eye and continue washing until the pH returns to normal.
• You can also use the medicine to treat the infection or you can used to support corneal repair such as includes topical citrate and ascorbate drops, oral antibiotics and oral vitamin C.