title: The decrease in aqueous tear production associated with pepper spray.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pepper spray is used both by civilians and by law enforcement. Burning sensation occurs when exposed to skin, pain and temporary blindness occurs when exposed to the eyes. This study focused on the effect of pepper spray on lacrimal tear production and subsequently on corneal sensitivity in a large group after an intense exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-six people who were exposed to pepper spray during the Gezi park protests volunteered. Subjects were asked if they wore any protective goggles and if they irrigated their eyes after exposure. They were asked to record their symptoms regarding dry eye in a standardized questionnaire. Schirmer I and II tests were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-two people wore protective goggles during exposure, whereas 14 people did not have any protection. Both Schirmer results in unprotected subjects were significantly lower than that in protected subjects. Schirmer I and II results of unprotected subjects were not statistically different, whereas they were statistically different in protected subjects. Thirty-five percent of unprotected subjects and 24% of protected subjects expressed symptoms of dry eye.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The active ingredient of pepper spray is oleoresin capsicum. It is randomly diffused to polymodal nerve terminals, leading to opening of non-selective cationic channels and block neuronal transmission. The lower results of both Schirmer in unprotected group emphasize the importance of a protective Google glass around the eyes during exposal, serving as a barrier minimalizing the contact of the spray with the eyes. The combination of the low results and lack of symptoms could suggest that corneal reflex lacrimation in our subjects was not abundant enough. The findings of this study could not fully represent long term findings but it could be assumed that our findings could be indicative of the sensory denervation and alterations demonstrated in studies investigating the long term effects of oleoresin capsicum.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, TC. Istanbul Bilim University , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors: Rifat
authors: R
authors: Rasier
authors: Amber Senel
authors: AS
authors: Kukner
authors: Elvan Alper
authors: EA
authors: Sengul
authors: Nazli Gul
authors: NG
authors: Yalcin
authors: Onur
authors: O
authors: Temizsoylu
authors: Halil Onder
authors: HO
authors: Bahcecioglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005135:Eye Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D009882:Ophthalmic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects; D018689:Sensory System Agents; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013666:Tears / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D018689:Sensory System Agents; D002211:Capsaicin
keywords: Cornea; Schirmer; dry eye; oleoresin capsicum; pepper spray