Ocular Chemical burns in the dermatology office: a practical approach to managing safety precautions

Chemical burns to the eyes are one of the few ocular emergencies that dermatologists may encounter in their everyday clinic. As such, dermatologists should be confident in their ability to urgently manage ocular chemical injuries should accidental exposure occur during a procedure. We report a case of accidental ocular exposure to aluminum chloride hexahydrate during skin biopsy of the cheek and subsequent transient ocular injury that resolved with early appropriate management. This article provides background information on acute chemical ocular injuries, offers practical step-by-step guidance for the dermatologist, and highlights immediate copious irrigation as perhaps the most critical step in determining the clinical course of the injury.