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What damage can oils and chemicals do if they enter the eye?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

If oils and industrial chemicals were to enter the eye, would they penetrate the cornea and sclera as eye drop medication does?

Please help.

Answered by Dr. Aditi Dubey

Education:

PGD Ophthalmology

Professional Bio:

Dr. Aditi Dubey is an accomplished Ophthalmologist with nine years of clinical experience. She obtained her MBBS degree from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik in 2014 and completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Ophthalmology from Gajra Raja Medical College, Gwalior in 2017. Fluent in English, Dr. Dubey specializes in providing exceptional eye and vision care.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I went through your query and can understand your concern.

Oils and industrial chemicals typically do not penetrate the cornea and sclera like eye drop medications do. Instead, they primarily affect the outer areas of the eye, including the eyelids, glands, conjunctiva, and the surface layers of the cornea and sclera.

If the eye is adequately irrigated immediately after exposure and preventive eye drops are administered, the risk of severe injury can be significantly reduced.

If you would like a closer look at eye anatomy or specific images to understand this better, please feel free to share.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your reply.

Why do they not penetrate deeper through the cornea and sclera in the same way eye as drop medications do?

Please help.

Answered by Dr. Aditi Dubey

Education:

PGD Ophthalmology

Professional Bio:

Dr. Aditi Dubey is an accomplished Ophthalmologist with nine years of clinical experience. She obtained her MBBS degree from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik in 2014 and completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Ophthalmology from Gajra Raja Medical College, Gwalior in 2017. Fluent in English, Dr. Dubey specializes in providing exceptional eye and vision care.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

The cornea and sclera are selectively permeable membranes, allowing only certain molecules of specific sizes to pass through. Average eye drops contain molecules that are small enough to penetrate these membranes and reach deeper layers of the cornea. However, larger particles, such as those found in oils and industrial chemicals, cannot penetrate the eye similarly.

Accidental exposure to such substances can be harmful, and prompt removal is essential to minimize long-term damage. Immediate irrigation of the eye and preventive eye drops can significantly reduce the risk of severe injury. For ongoing relief, lubricant eye drops containing carboxymethyl cellulose every two hours can help soothe and protect the eye.

I hope it helps.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At December 8, 2024
Reviewed At December 8, 2024

Education:

PGD Ophthalmology

Professional Bio:

Dr. Aditi Dubey is an accomplished Ophthalmologist with nine years of clinical experience. She obtained her MBBS degree from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik in 2014 and completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Ophthalmology from Gajra Raja Medical College, Gwalior in 2017. Fluent in English, Dr. Dubey specializes in providing exceptional eye and vision care.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Education:

PGD Ophthalmology

Professional Bio:

Dr. Aditi Dubey is an accomplished Ophthalmologist with nine years of clinical experience. She obtained her MBBS degree from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik in 2014 and completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Ophthalmology from Gajra Raja Medical College, Gwalior in 2017. Fluent in English, Dr. Dubey specializes in providing exceptional eye and vision care.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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