Original ArticleSevere Ocular Injury Resulting from Chuna Packets
Section snippets
Patients and Methods
In this retrospective case series, chart review of patients who were treated at the Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, New Delhi, India, between March, 1999, and July, 2003, with ocular alkali burns resulting from bursting of chuna packets was conducted (Table 1 [available at http://aaojournal.org]). The grading of the ocular burns was carried out on the basis of the modified Roper-Hall classification.3
The management of the patient depended on the stage of patient when seeking
Results
Twenty-one patients with a history of ocular burns resulting from chuna packets bursting were seen from March, 1999, through July, 2003. Of these, 4 patients had bilateral burns (Fig 2). Of the 21 patients, 17 were male and 4 were female. The mean age at time of injury was 8.4±5.5 years (range, 3.8–26.8 years). All but 1 patient were under the age of 16 years.
The time interval between injury and presentation to us was 184±247 days (range, 0–912 days). Eight (38%) patients sought treatment in
Discussion
We report 21 patients who experienced ocular alkali burns, most of them severe, resulting from bursting of chuna packets. This occurs because of the pastelike consistency of chuna. On bursting of the packets, the chuna is sprayed around and coats the cornea and conjunctiva. It also becomes lodged in the conjunctival fornices, and the calcium hydroxide continues to be exposed to the ocular surface. It can be removed by careful inspection of the eyelids after double eversion using Desmarres’
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Cited by (0)
Manuscript no. 2005-575.