title: Toxic anterior segment syndrome--more than sterility meets the eye.
abstract: TOXIC ANTERIOR SEGMENT SYNDROME (TASS) is a rare, potentially devastating complication of routine intraocular surgery that occurs when a noninfectious toxic agent enters the anterior segment of the eye, causing an inflammatory reaction. SEVERE CASES OF TASS can cause permanent harm, and if symptoms still are present after six weeks, the eye is not likely to recover. EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT are effective in preventing permanent damage, but often TASS is mistakenly diagnosed as infectious endophthalmitis for which treatment is completely different. THE CAUSES AND TREATMENT of TASS are discussed, and risk reduction strategies are described.
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D013527:Perioperative Nursing; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing; D013242:Sterilization; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones