Corneal and conjunctival exposure to caustic material can be a devastating and painful ocular injury. The majority of the chemical injuries are due to basic compounds, but acid and solvent injuries are also seen. The amount of damage done to the cornea and ocular surface depends on the pH of the chemical, exposure time, and amount of exposure.

Chemical injuries are most commonly seen in young male individuals (often not using adequate eye protection) and in persons using bleach and other cleaning solutions. The injuries also occur when contact lens wearers mistake 3% hydrogen peroxide contact lens cleaning solution (eg, Clear Care), which cannot be used directly on the eye, with multipurpose rinsing and soaking solution, which can be used directly on the eye.

It is essential to initiate treatment for chemical injuries as soon as possible to minimize damage.

Patients with chemical injuries to the eye will often be in severe pain and not be able to open the affected eye(s). There will also be excessive tearing in the affected eye. In splash injuries, there are often associated chemical burns on the eyelid and face. Long-term sequelae such as corneal scarring and structural changes of the eyelid may occur.