Algorithmic approach to management of acute ocular chemical injuries-I's and E's of Management

Abstract

Ocular chemical injuries are associated with significant morbidity leading to vision loss and ocular surface damage. Appropriate management and intervention in the acute stage dictates the final outcome as well as the prognosis for visual rehabilitative procedures in chronic stage. Classifying the parameters to be addressed in the acute stage and providing an algorithmic approach for managing the alterations in each of them will facilitate the primary goal of ensuring epithelialization of the ocular surface. Broadly categorizing them into the I's and E's (inciting agent, inflammation, epithelial defect, ischemia, exposure and intraocular pressure) and treating each will directly and/or indirectly influence re-epithelialization of the ocular surface, which in turn will reduce or prevent the various detrimental sequelae of ocular chemical injury.

Keywords: Allo simple limbal epithelial transplant; Chemical injury of the eye; Cornea; Limbal stem cell; Ocular chemical injury; Simple limbal epithelial transplant; Tenonplasty.