CHEMICAL INJURY

Chemical injuries are caused by acids and alkalies. The acids coagulate proteins and do not enter eye while alkalies penetrate eye and are more dangerous than acids. The most toxic alkali is amonium hydro-oxide. Chemical injuries cause limbal ischemia corneal opacification and symblephron formation. 

The treatment of chemical injury is copious irrigation with water or saline if available, removal of particulate matter from fornices, breaking symbephron with round glass rod.For mild injuries Medical treatment involves prophylactic antibiotics eye drops, intraocular presssure lowering eye drops, cycloplegics for comfort. severe injuries need more invasive options like stem cell grafts, amniotic membrane grafts, keratoplasty etc