Alkali injury, corneal

Skrypuch, O., Tokarewicz, A. and Willis, N. (1987). Effects of dimethyl sulfoxide on a model of corneal alkali injury. Can. J. Ophthalmol. 22, 17-20. 

Den, S., Sotozono, C., Kinoshita, S., Ikeda, T. Efficacy of early systemic betamethasone or cyclosporin A after corneal alkali injury via inflammatory cytokine reduction. Acta Ophthalmol Scand 82(2), 195-199 (2004)... 

The patient is followed daily until the corneal injury resolves. Unless an anterior uveitis is present, the cyclo-plegic, steroid, and antibiotic can be discontinued once the epithelium has healed. If healing of the mild alkali burn does not proceed as expected, it is possible that ischemia is present, necessitating reevaluation of the treatment. 

Caustics and Irritants Acid and alkali burns to the eye often result in severe corneal injury and require aggressive intervention. It is often difficult to predict at the outset the amount of damage any given... 

In the conjunctiva and cornea, sulfur mustard exposure causes loosening of epithelial cells accompanied by corneal edema and opacification (Warthin Weller, 1919). Even low-dose exposure of sulfur mustard to the eyes can be incapacitating (ocular ICt5o = 50 to 100 mg-min/m3). Only limited studies of sulfur mustard-induced eye injuries in animals are available (Kadar et al., 1996 Maumenee Scholz, 1948 Warthin Weller, 1919). These suggest that the microscopic pathology is similar to most chemical injuries with the exception of acid and alkali bums. 

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