Evaluation of Clinical Findings and Visual Prognosis in Chemical Eye Injuries

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 1, 132 - 136, 28.03.2025

Esra Biberoğlu Çelik , Semra Akkaya Turhan , Özlem Şahin , Ebru Toker

https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.1485598

Abstract

Objective: Chemical eye injuries are ophthalmic emergencies that require rapid intervention. It can cause extensive damage to the ocular surface and anterior segment leading to severe visual impairment. In this study, we aimed to report the clinical findings and visual outcomes of patients with chemical eye injuries.
Methods: A total of 59 eyes of 50 patients who were followed up and treated with the diagnosis of chemical eye injury in Marmara University Ophthalmology Department between 2013 and 2020 were included in the study. Demographic and clinical data of the patients were analyzed.
Results: Mean age of patients was 31.9±12.5 (1-55 years). The mean follow-up period of the patients was 21.3±40.9 (median: 13; range: 3-310) days. 74.6% of the injuries occurred in the workplace. The exposed agent was acidic in 47.5%, alkaline in 39.0%, and the agent in 13.5% of eyes was unknown. The mean initial and final BCVA were 0.51±0.44 and 0.09±0.42 LogMAR, respectively. The observed improvement in BCVA values was statistically significant (p<.001). According to the Roper-Hall classification, 62.7% (37) of the eyes were grade I, and according to the Dua classification, 54.9% (43) of the eyes were grade I and II. The two classifications were correlated with each other (p<.001). While medical treatment was sufficient in 94.9% of the eyes, additional amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) was applied in 3 eyes. conjunctival limbal autograft transplantation combined with AMT was performed in a patient with a grade IV chemical eye injury.
Conclusion: Adequate and timely treatment helps to of paramount importance to mitigate complications. Additionally, staging of ocular surface burns is crucial to determine prognosis and management plan. Chemical eye injuries are often associated with occupational accidents; therefore, preventive measures and workers' education are imperative.

Keywords

Chemical eye injury, Limbal ischemia, amniotic membrane transplantation, Roper-Hall classification, Dua classification

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