Severe corneal burn due to the accidental application of salicylic acid packed in a plastic dropper bottle

Virgilio Galvis, Alejandro Tello, Néstor I. Carreño, Camilo A. Niño, Natalia A. García , Valeria Otoya , Rodrigo Arana, .

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.5284
Keywords: Cornea, corneal opacity, burns, chemical, limbus corneae, epithelium, corneal, Bowman’s membrane
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Abstract

Eye burns due to the accidental application of pharmacological or nonpharmacological substances packaged in plastic dropper bottles have been described for more than three decades and continue to occur. These burns can cause potentially serious corneal injuries.
We report the case of a patient who mistakenly applied salicylic acid to the right eye after confusing it with an eye lubricant, which caused him a severe corneal burn. Fortunately, after aggressive medical and surgical management (including oxygen therapy and amniotic membrane grafting), the visual results were good.
We suggest conducting educational campaigns and taking legislative measures in our country to avoid packaging corrosive substances in this type of dropper bottle to reduce the risk of accidental burns.

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  • Virgilio Galvis Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Floridablanca, Colombia; Departamento de Oftalmología, Centro Oftalmológico Virgilio Galvis, Floridablanca, Colombia; Departamento de Oftalmología, Fundación Oftalmológica de Santander, FOSCAL, Floridablanca, Colombia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4587-5364
  • Alejandro Tello Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Floridablanca, Colombia; Departamento de Oftalmología, Centro Oftalmológico Virgilio Galvis, Floridablanca, Colombia; Departamento de Oftalmología, Fundación Oftalmológica de Santander, FOSCAL, Floridablanca, Colombia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5081-0720
  • Néstor I. Carreño Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Floridablanca, Colombia; Departamento de Oftalmología, Centro Oftalmológico Virgilio Galvis, Floridablanca, Colombia; Departamento de Oftalmología, Fundación Oftalmológica de Santander, FOSCAL, Floridablanca, Colombia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3559-1755
  • Camilo A. Niño Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Floridablanca, Colombia; Departamento de Oftalmología, Centro Oftalmológico Virgilio Galvis, Floridablanca, Colombia; Departamento de Oftalmología, Fundación Oftalmológica de Santander, FOSCAL, Floridablanca, Colombia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9738-7333
  • Natalia A. García Departamento de Oftalmología, Centro Oftalmológico Virgilio Galvis, Floridablanca, Colombia; Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3379-800X
  • Valeria Otoya Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Floridablanca, Colombia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8631-5059
  • Rodrigo Arana Departamento de Oftalmología, Centro Oftalmológico Virgilio Galvis, Floridablanca, Colombia; Departamento de Oftalmología, Fundación Oftalmológica de Santander, FOSCAL, Floridablanca, Colombia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8899-772X

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How to Cite
1.
Galvis V, Tello A, Carreño NI, Niño CA, García NA, Otoya V, et al. Severe corneal burn due to the accidental application of salicylic acid packed in a plastic dropper bottle. Biomed. [Internet]. 2020 Sep. 1 [cited 2025 Apr. 12];40(3):456-63. Available from: https://revistabiomedicaorg.biteca.online/index.php/biomedica/article/view/5284
Published
2020-09-01
Issue
Vol. 40 No. 3 (2020)
Section
Case presentation

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