Acute Ocular Manifestations after an Accidental Hydrofluoric Acid Release.
10.3341/jkos.2013.54.11.1663
- Author:
Yong Joon KIM
1
;
Sang Hyouk PARK
;
Kyung Seek CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Ophthalmology, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ckseek@naver.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Chemical burn;
Hydrofluoric acid;
Ocular manifestation
- MeSH:
Burns, Chemical;
Conjunctiva;
Hospital Records;
Humans;
Hydrofluoric Acid*;
Hyperemia;
Vision, Ocular
- From:Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society
2013;54(11):1663-1668
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To report the ocular health of a community after an accidental release of hydrofluoric acid (HF). METHODS: The hospital records of 327 patients that were exposed to HF between Sep 9, 2012 and Oct 31, 2012 were reviewed. Demographic characteristics, subjective ocular symptoms, and the ophthalmologic examination results of the patients were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Among the 327 patients, 203 patients (62.1%) were exposed to hydrofluoric acid (HF) within 1,000 m of the site of the accident. A total of 131 patients (40.1%) were exposed to HF over 3 days. The most frequently reported ocular symptoms after HF exposure were ocular pain (49.5%) and conjunctival hyperemia (37.9%). Conjunctival hyperemia (43.4%), corneal erosion (23.9%), conjunctiva papilla, and follicles (24.2% and 14.4%, respectively) were noted during ophthalmologic examinations, but 46.2% of patients were normal on examination. None of the patients had vision-threatening damages. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, severe ocular surface changes, which can affect vision, were not identified. This result could be explained by the low atmospheric HF concentration after the accident.
