title: Paraquat causes chronic ocular surface toxicity.
abstract: We describe a case of topical exposure to a commercial solution of paraquat. Chronic, severe ocular surface destruction resulted, probably due to absorption of the herbicide into the surface tissues, facilitated by a surfactant present in the preparation, and to intracellular redox cycling of the paraquat cation. Ocular paraquat toxicity is described and explained in the context of the toxicity of systemic absorption.
authors.affiliation: Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vlahos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goggin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coster
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010269:Paraquat / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D010269:Paraquat