RT Book, Section
A1 Duncan, Jacque L.
A1 Parikh, Neeti B.
A1 Seitzman, Gerami D.
A2 Papadakis, Maxine A.
A2 McPhee, Stephen J.
A2 Rabow, Michael W.
A2 McQuaid, Kenneth R.
SR Print(0)
ID 1184192514
T1 Chemical Conjunctivitis & Keratitis
T2 Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2022
YR 2022
FD 2022
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781264269389
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1184192514
RD 2024/04/16
AB Chemical  burns  are  treated  by  copious  irrigation  of  the  eyes  as  soon  as  possible  after  exposure,  with  tap  water,  saline  solution,  or  buffering  solution  if  available.  Neutralization  of  an  acid  with  an  alkali  or  vice  versa  may  cause  further  damage.  Alkali  injuries  are  more  serious  and  require  prolonged  irrigation,  since  alkalies  are  not  precipitated  by  the  proteins  of  the  eye  as  are  acids.  It  is  important  to  remove  any  retained  particulate  matter,  such  as  is  typically  present  in  injuries  involving  cement  and  building  plaster.  This  often  requires  eversion  of  the  upper  lid  (eFigure  7–73).  The  pupil  should  be  dilated  with  1%  cyclopentolate,  1  drop  twice  a  day,  to  relieve  discomfort,  and  prophylactic  topical  antibiotics  should  be  started  (Table  7–2).  In  moderate  to  severe  injuries,  intensive  topical  corticosteroids  and  topical  and  systemic  vitamin  C  are  also  necessary.  Complications  include  mucus  deficiency,  scarring  of  the  cornea  and  conjunctiva,  symblepharon  (adhesions  between  the  tarsal  and  bulbar  conjunctiva),  tear  duct  obstruction,  and  secondary  infection.  It  is  difficult  to  assess  severity  of  chemical  burns  without  slit-lamp  examination.