A Case of Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Ophthalmic Ointment / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Neomycin is one of the aminoglycoside antibiotics and not uncommonly causes allergic contact dermatitis. Wool alcohol is one of the most widely used lanolin bases and rarely has been reported to cause allergic contact dermatitis. A 63-year-old male presented with a pruritic, erythematous swelling on the right periorbital area. He had a cataract operation on his right eye 10 days ago and has applied several eye drops and topical antibacterial agents. Patch test with Korean standard antigens and ophthalmic preparations revealed strong positive reactions to neomycin sulfate and the Maxitrol ointment composed of dexamethasone, neomycin sulfate and polymyxin B, and positive reaction to wool alcohol. Neomycin may be the major causative agent to produce allergic contact dermatitis, and wool alcohol also has some relation to it.