Management of chemical injuries of the eye.

The extreme morbidity that a severe chemical burn produces makes it imperative that immediate treatment be instituted for the purpose of restoration of the integrity and transparency of the cornea. The evolution of cicatrisation in severe chemical injuries especially alkali, takes an unfavourable course. Release of collagenase from the newly formed epithelium and fibroblasts of the stroma and lack of required levels of ascorbate in the aqueous humour causes fibroblasts to develop a denatured weak collagen.