Management of chemical eye injuries with prolonged irrigation.

To study the effect of prolonged irrigation in the treatment of chemical eye injuries we reviewed the case records of 172 patients. Most of the patients were men in working age. The injury was caused by acid in 57 patients (33%). Of the acid burns, 28 were due to AIV solution commonly used in agriculture in Finland, and 27 were due to inorganic acids. Alkaline burns occurred in 64 (37%) patients including 33 cases with natrium hydroxide and 20 cases with mortar and cement burns. Other chemicals including organic solvents and surfactants caused the eye burn in 51 (30%) cases. Fifty three patients mostly with alkaline and acid burns were treated with prolonged irrigation with one liter of physiological saline using intravenous delivery system during 1-2 hours. The extent of damage was smaller, the visual outcome better, and the duration of treatment at the hospital and absence from work were shorter in patients treated with prolonged irrigation than without such treatment.