Ocular chemical burns in the workplace: Epidemiological characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies focusing on occupational pathologies can be an important medium through which to bring about change with respect to workplace accidents, both in terms of prevention planning and management as well as the appropriate care following an accident. Ocular chemical burns benefit from urgent attention as, if not treated early and appropriately, the tissue of the eye and its functionality can be seriously compromised. The objective of this study was to collate epidemiological data on workplace ocular chemical burns which could in turn serve to identify key action points in terms of occupational health. METHODS: Cohort study with 604 cases of chemical burns to the eye occurring in the workplace between 2014 and 2015. Criteria inclusion were diagnosis of chemical burn, patient seen at the medical centre of the mutual society, workplace acquired ophthalmic pathology leading to the issuing of a sickness certificate. No exclusion criteria were defined. RESULTS: Ocular chemical burns were the second most common workplace eye injury (12.68%) behind foreign bodies in the eye (43.42%). Men accounted for 68.54% of cases of ocular chemical burns. In around 75% of cases, sickness certification was for less than 7 days, although 6 patients suffered permanent disability. The occupational sector which was most affected particularly the industry service industry. The economic costs with these workplace injuries were extracted. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate early medical assistance is essential. The production and distribution of clinical guides for health care workers could optimise first line assistance and mitigate possible training deficiencies.

[Sorption detoxification in the combined therapy of chemical eye burns]. / Sorbtsionnaia detoksikatsiia v kompleksnoi terapii khimicheskikh ozhogov glaz.

Comparative assessment of results after treatment of 90 patients with chemical burns of moderate and severe degrees was made using a sorption (103 eyes) and traditional (47 eyes) methods of treatment. The sorption method included the usage of ocular medicinal ionometabolic insertions and a 10% medicinal gelatine that are able to eliminate ions from the burning substance and toxic product formed in the eye due to burns. As a result of treatment, the sorption method allowed to obtain higher functional results, to achieve a shorter time for the patient's stay in the hospital, by 11.2 bed-days, on the average. Thanks to the sorption method introduced into the clinical practice the economic effect made up about 50,000 rubles yearly.