Eye Injuries Caused by Superglue…Yeah, it Happens
The first time I saw a patient in the emergency department who had mistaken a superglue bottle for Visine, it seemed like a once in a lifetime situation. I mean, who keeps hard core adhesive on their nightstand? Then, it happened again. And again.
While I certainly don’t treat patients with super-glued eyelashes on a daily basis, it happens more than you would think. The incident is so common, in fact, that even prestigious academic publications like the British Medical Journal have covered the topic. In 1982, superglue, also known by its technical name cyanoacrylate, was repackaged into eye-dropper like bottles. Since then, people with poor vision, children, and those who are careless have inadvertently sustained ocular superglue injuries. Fortunately, a superglue to the eye situation is an easy one to fix.
Let’s look at the various ocular injuries caused by superglue and their treatment.
Tarsorrhaphy- Eyelids or Eyelashes Stuck Shut
When superglue adheres to the skin, in most cases it can be easily removed with acetone. But, rubbing acetone over your eyes is of course inadvisable. In the case of eyelashes that are glued shut (technically dubbed tarsorrhaphy- bet you didn’t learn that in nursing school!), first rinse the area with warm water. If this is done immediately after exposure, some of the glue may be washed away. If the tips of the eyelashes or just one or two lashes are affected, you can try to manually separate them but never, ever, ever, force them apart. Another approach is to trim the few affected lashes removing the grasp of the glue.
In most cases, removal of superglue to the lashes or eyelids isn’t so simple. Frankly, it can be a sticky mess. Fortunately, superglue will come off on its own…eventually. Applying an opthalmic ointment to the area then covering it with a gauzy patch is the best approach. The opthalmic ointment can safely be applied to eyes and the oily consistency helps break the bonds of the glue more quickly. If you have limited resources, or consider yourself to be MacGuyver, you can sub margarine for opthalmic ointment. With application of an oily substance, the adhesive will gradually lose strength and the lashes will separate on their own in 1-4 days. Wearing a patch is important for comfort and to keep the eye moist and lubricated.
Glue Adhered to the Surface of the Eye Itself
Most often when superglue is mistaken for eye drops the individual blinks immediately on instillation as glue causes burning. With blinking, the adhesive is pushed to the lashes and lid margins. However, glue can occasionally adhere to the eye itself, attaching itself to proteins on the eye’s surface. This can cause blurred vision and tearing.
In cases where glue enters and adheres to the eye, rinse the affected eye with water as this may dissociate some of the glue from the surface of the eye. Then, examen the eye with flourescein stain. While the glue itself with detach itself from the eye naturally, usually within a few hours (never try to pull it off), many people sustain a concomitant corneal abrasion by rubbing the irritated area.
Corneal Abrasion
While glue will not damage the eye permanently, it will simply cause short-term irritation, many individuals sustain associated eye injury as a result of rubbing or scratching at the irritated eye. As with any eye injury, examen the affected eye with fluorescein stain looking for a corneal abrasion. If one is noted, treat the injury by prescribing prophylactic antibiotic drops or ointment and pain medication if necessary. If the eye does not heal within one or two days, or the injury if significant, referral to an ophthalmologist may be warranted.