SIR, Mr S J Morgan emphasises the need to distinguish between ammonia and antipersonnel or antirape sprays such as CS and Mace.' From personal experience over the past 18 months I can describe a very simple and rapid method of differentiation. In a series of 17 patients who had been assaulted with a pungent fluid one had a strong smell of ammonia on his clothes and clinically had features of a ...

AIM To report the failure of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for ocular surface reconstruction in patients with severe acute chemical and thermal burns. METHODS Four eyes of three patients who suffered severe chemical (n=3) and thermal (n=1) burns were studied. The aim of AMT was to prevent symblepharon formation, promote conjunctival regeneration, inhibit corneal melting by promoting...

Chemical injuries are increasing in the modern world. Acids and alkalis are the main chemicals implicated. In this review article, the author has outlined the pathogenesis of the damage inflicted by acids as well as alkalis. Emergency treatment has been described as well as treatment to be used in the acute, sub -acute and chronic phases to reduce morbidity in these cases Modern methods of mana...

In Germany, chemical eye burns are a common and recurring cause of long-term vision disorders and even blindness. Severe eye burns, however, have become less common thanks to sophisticated safety systems and high levels of safety standards in industrial workplaces. In contrast, extremely hazardous substances capable of causing severe eye damage are readily available on the private consumer mark...

We herein presented a case of sympathetic ophthalmia induced by chemical burns. A 39-year-old male was referred to our retinal clinic complaining of sharply decreased vision in his right eye, with photophobia and headache. He had suffered severe chemical burns five months ago, and his left eye underwent amniotic membrane transplantation combined with tarsorrhaphy for persistent corneal ulcerati...