• Users Online: 64736
  • Home
  • Print this page
  • Email this page
BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Year : 2009  |  Volume : 57  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 311-313

Keratouveitis caused by Euphorbia plant sap


1 Disha Eye Hospitals and Research Centre, Barrackpore, Kolkata - 700 120, West Bengal, India
2 Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Udupi - 576 104, India

Correspondence Address:
Samar K Basak
Disha Eye Hospitals and Research Centre, Barrackpore, Kolkata - 700 120, West Bengal
India
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/0301-4738.53060

Rights and Permissions

The milky sap or latex of Euphorbia plant is highly toxic and an irritant to the skin and eye. This report illustrates the spectrum of ocular inflammation caused by accidental inoculation of latex of Euphorbia plant. Three patients presented with accidental ocular exposure to the milky sap of Euphorbia species of recent onset. The initial symptoms in all cases were severe burning sensation with blurring of vision. Visual acuity reduced from 20/60 to counting fingers. Clinical findings varied from kerato-conjunctivitis, mild to severe corneal edema, epithelial defects, anterior uveitis and secondary elevated intraocular pressure. All symptoms and signs had resolved by 10-14 days with active supportive medication. People who handle Euphorbia plants should wear eye protection. It is always advisable to ask the patient to bring a sample of the plant for identification.


[FULL TEXT] [PDF]*
Print this article     Email this article
 Next article
 Previous article
 Table of Contents

 Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
 Citation Manager
 Access Statistics
 Reader Comments
 Email Alert *
 Add to My List *
 * Requires registration (Free)
 

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed4661    
    Printed111    
    Emailed1    
    PDF Downloaded438    
    Comments [Add]    
    Cited by others 16    

Recommend this journal