Childrens' eyes at risk from detergent capsules

Doctors are warning parents to keep detergent capsules away from children after a recent spate of eye injuries.

Children are often attracted to the brightly coloured capsules, but if burst open, the liquid alkaline detergent can get into a child's eye and cause a chemical burn.

In a letter to the British Medical Journal online, doctors at the Western Eye Hospital, London said the capsules accounted for 40% of chemical eye injuries to children under the age of 5 at their hospital last year.

They also said the National Poison's Unit at Guy's and St Thomas' received 192 calls related to the capsules during 2007-8, and 225 calls during 2006-7, one in five of which were related to chemical eye injuries.

Consultant opthalmologist, Melanie Corbutt who co-wrote the letter said: "After recent discussions with Guy's Poisons Unit, some manufacturers have made hazard labels more prominent.

"But greater consumer awareness is required to reduce injury. Such concentrated cleaning products must be kept out of the reach of children, and immediate irrigation is crucial to reduce the risk of clinically significant injury."

This article was published on Wed 3 March 2010