News

Washing that's not easy on the eye - 03 March 2010

Parents are being warned to keep washing detergent capsules away from children after a surge in chemical injuries at Western Eye Hospital.

Washing capsules news story March 2010 - picture of IsisHalf of all children under five treated for chemical eye injuries by the hospital last year had been playing with the capsules. Such burns on the surface of the eye could cause long-term scarring, constant discomfort, impaired vision and, in the most severe cases, lazy eye and blindness.

In a paper published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), our clinicians state that children are attracted by the colourful and malleable nature of the capsules. However, their outer wall dissolves when in contact with moist hands or the mouth, releasing harmful, alkaline contents.

Washing capsules news story March 2010 - picture of Isis and AlisonIsis Vanterpool (pictured above, and right with her mum Alison) was treated at Western Eye Hospital after squeezing a capsule when she was aged three. Her mum Alison said: “I turned my back for just a couple of seconds when she grabbed a capsule and it burst all over her face.

“I’ve never heard a child scream like it. It was so upsetting and frightening. I thought she might go blind but thankfully she is ok.”

Miss Melanie Corbett, consultant ophthalmologist at Western Eye Hospital and co-author of the BMJ paper, said: “Parents must keep liquid detergent capsules out of children’s reach – their contents could cause irreversible damage to the eye.

“If any chemical enters your child’s eye, you should wash it out immediately, with large quantities of water.”

Miss Rashmi Mathew, specialist registrar, ophthalmology, and another author of the paper, added that the Trust’s work with the National Poisons Unit at Guy’s Hospital had resulted in improved hazard labelling on detergent packaging but she added that more needed to be done to raise awareness.

Reference: BMJ2010; 340: c1186