Keratouveitis caused by sap of Euphorbia myrsinites plant.

BACKGROUND

Euphorbia plants grow in many gardens. Their milky latex is, however, a strong irritant which may induce various ocular lesions from keratoconjunctivitis to severe uveitis.

HISTORY AND SIGNS: A 86-year-old woman developed a unilateral severe anterior chamber inflammation associated with descemtic folds after direct contact with sap of Euphorbia. Visual acuity was limited to counting fingers. Her eye was operated from filtering surgery ten years previously. The patient was closely followed to rule out the diagnosis of bacterial endophthalmitis.

THERAPY AND OUTCOME: Symptoms progressively resolved after topical administration of 3 mg/mL ofloxacine and 1 % prednisolone acetate.

CONCLUSIONS

Euphorbia sap toxicity may take different forms from keratoconjunctivitis to severe uveitis. Euphorbia sap-induced uveitis should be kept in mind when the patient has seen in contact with freshly cut plants.