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Abstract #17480 Published in IGR 9-2
Chemical injuries of the eye - A review of 75 cases from West Malaysia
Reddy SC; Tajunisah IInternational Journal of Ophthalmology 2007; 7: 327-330
AIM: 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 < 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.
Dr. S.C. Reddy, Department of Ophthalmology, International Medical University, Clinical School, 70300 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. screddy98@hotmail.com
Classification:
9.4.20 Other (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.4 Glaucomas associated with other ocular and systemic disorders)
9.4.7 Glaucomas associated with ocular trauma (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.4 Glaucomas associated with other ocular and systemic disorders)