A review of chemical eye burns referred to the Blodgett Regional Poison Center.

We reviewed a random sampling of 500 cases of chemical eye exposures referred to the Blodgett Regional Poison Center from July 1, 1986 to December 31, 1986. While some injuries were encountered in laboratories and industrial plants, the great majority originated in the home (84.4%) and involved commonly used household products. Most exposures were acute and reported within minutes to 1 hr. Cases predominantly involved children suffering accidental exposure. The most common symptoms were eye discomfort (56.2%) and redness (26.4%), but many patients were completely asymptomatic (11.4%). The reported injuries included corneal burns or abrasions (23 cases), and conjunctivitis (7 cases). Only 8 cases (1.6%) were initially seen by an ophthalmologist. In virtually all cases, the recommended emergency treatment was immediate prolonged rinsing of the eye.