J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2010 Sep;51(9):1282-1286. 10.3341/jkos.2010.51.9.1282.

Keratoconjunctival Chemical Burn due to Chemical Light

• Park JH
• Song NH
• Chi NC
• Koh JW

• KMID: 2122298
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2010.51.9.1282

Abstract

PURPOSE
Chemical lights, also called Luminous Sticks, consist of a solution of diphenyl oxalate (C14H10O4) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Human tissue can be damaged when the mixed solution contacts the human body. The authors report a single case of chemical injury of keratoconjunctiva by exposure to chemical lights.
CASE SUMMARY
A 47-year-old man's right eye accidentally contacted the fluorescent material when breaking a Luminous Stick 7 days before being referred to our clinic. He had pain in the right eye and experienced visual loss. The patient's best corrected visual acuity in the right eye was 20/50. An ulcerative lesion with edema at the inferior bulbar and palpebral conjunctiva and coneal epithelial defect was observed upon biomicroscopic examination. The patient was hospitalized and antibiotics, steroids, mydriatic and artificial tear eye drops were applied for treatment. After 9 days of treatment, the best corrected visual acuity of the patient recovered to 20/20, and the conjunctiva and cornea were mostly healed. No complication was observed.
CONCLUSIONS
Chemical lights are commonly used in concerts and festivals. If the contents contact the eyes when breaking he chemical lights, various chemical burns can occur and cause ophthalmologic complications. Since no regulations have been passed regarding chemical lights, safety education and supervision are considered to be necessary for children.

Keyword

Chemical burn; Chemical light; Conjunctiva

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Biphenyl Compounds
Burns, Chemical
Child
Conjunctiva
Cornea
Edema
Eye
Holidays
Human Body
Humans
Hydrogen Peroxide
Light
Middle Aged
Ophthalmic Solutions
Organization and Administration
Social Control, Formal
Steroids
Tears
Ulcer
Visual Acuity
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Biphenyl Compounds
Hydrogen Peroxide
Ophthalmic Solutions
Steroids

Figure

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  Figure 1 Chemical light sticks are flexible plastic filled with hydrogen peroxide. Inside the tube is another smaller glass tube filled with diphenyloxalate

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  Figure 2 At the first visit, corrosive lesion with dot hemorrhages at the inferior conjunctiva (A) and a large corneal epithelial defect was observed (B).

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  Figure 3 At one month after treatment, the corrosive lesion of the inferior conjunctiva was healed completely (A) and the corneal surface was smooth and clear (B).

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