EYE INJURY CAUSED BY TEAR-GAS WEAPONS

This article reports findings from a study of 14 eyes enucleated following injury by a tear-gas weapon. Five of the eyes were removed shortly after injury, revealing necrosis of the anterior segment, an intense necrotizing keratitis of varying degree, and an associated suppurative iridocyclitis. Undoubtedly these changes represented the acute chemical damage of tear gas. The after-effects of the changes could be seen in several eyes that showed retrocorneal membranes and obliteration of the anterior chamber and chamber angle. The remaining nine eyes were enucleated up to 15 years following injury, and the findings in these chronic cases can best be attributed to the sequelae of neuroparalytic keratopathy, probably related to the neurotoxic effects of tear gas. Another noteworthy finding was the presence of postcontusion deformities of the chamber angle probably caused by the effect of the blast or perhaps by fragments striking the eye. Various features of the tear-gas weapon, such as the blast force, the propellent charge, the wadding, and age of the cartridge, in addition to the chemical agent itself, should be considered in evaluating such eyes either clinically or microscopically. © 1968.