Optical coherence tomography analysis of hydrofluoric acid decontamination of human cornea by mannitol solution.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of mannitol solution as a decontamination agent on the chemical burn of the human corneas.


METHODS
Eight donor corneas from an eye bank were exposed to 25μl of 2.5% hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution on a filter paper for 20s. Three eyes were rinsed with 1000ml of mannitol 20% for 15min immediately after removal of the filter paper, 3 other were rinsed with sodium chloride (NaCl) 0.9% (1000ml for 15min) and two eyes were not rinsed. Microstructural changes were monitored in the time domain by optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging for 75min.


RESULTS
NaCl reduced the penetration depth to approximately half the thickness of the cornea at 15min; scattering within the anterior cornea was higher than that for the unrinsed eye. With mannitol, no increased scattering was observed in the posterior part of the corneal stroma within a time period of 1h after rinsing. OCT images revealed low-scattering intensity within the anterior stroma at the end of the rinsing period.


CONCLUSIONS
In eye bank human corneas, mannitol proved to be an efficient agent to decontaminate HF burn.
Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericordia de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Eye Clinic, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Ricardo M
RM
Nosé
Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericordia de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Fabio B
FB
Daga
Eye Clinic, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Walton
W
Nosé
Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericordia de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Santa Casa de Sao Paulo School of Medical Sciences, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: nirokasahara@hotmail.com.
Niro
N
Kasahara
D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D065306:Corneal Injuries / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006858:Hydrofluoric Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008353:Mannitol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence
D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions; D008353:Mannitol; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D006858:Hydrofluoric Acid
Burns; Cornea; Emergency; Irritation; Mannitol; Rinsing