Ocular injuries in the working place are usually related to exposure to industrial chemical substances e.g. acid and alkaline, radiation energy e.g. ultra-violet light or even direct trauma. Ocular injuries by saps of plants are uncommon but can result in serious ocular complications. We report a case of ocular injury of a gardener caused by the sap of a Euphorbia plant, Euphorbia trigona. The ocular complications and management of Euphorbia plant sap-associated eye injuries are reviewed.
MeraniR., Sa-NgiampornpanitT., KerdraonY., BillsonF., McClellanK.A.Euphorbia lactea sap keratouveitis: case report and review of the literature. Cornea2007; 26(6): 749–52.
EkeT., Al-HusainyS., RaynorM.K.The spectrum of ocular inflammation caused by Euphorbia plant sap. Arch Ophthalmol2000; 118(1): 13–6.
10.
HsuehK.F., LinP.Y., LeeS.M., HsiehC.F.Ocular injuries from plant sap of genera Euphorbia and Dieffenbachia. J Chin Med Assoc2004; 67(2): 93–8.
11.
GeidelK.Klinische Beobachtung und tierexperementelle Untersuchungen uber die Wirkung vom Saft der Euphorbia lathyris (Springwolfsmilch) am Auge. [Clinical observation and animal experimental studies on the effect of the sap of Euphorbia lathyris on the eye.]. [German]. Klin Monatsblatter Augenheilkd Augenarztl Fortbild1962; 141: 374–9.
12.
CrowderJ.I., SextonR.R.Keratoconjunctivitis resulting from the sap of candelabra cactus and the pencil tree. Arch Ophthalmol1964; 72: 476–84.
13.
EkeT.Acute kerato-uveitis associated with topical self-administration of the sap of the Petty Spurge (Euphorbia peplus). Eye1994; 8(Pt 6): 694–6.
14.
BiednerB.Z., SachsU., WitztumAEuphorbia peplus latex keratoconjunctivitis. Ann Ophthalmol1981; 13(6): 739–40.
15.
HartmannK.Augenschadigung durch den Saft der Peplus (Wolfsmilch). [German]. Klin Monatsblatter Augenheilkd Augenarztl Fortbild1940; 104: 324–6.
DesatnikH., AshkenaziI., AvniI., AbrahamF., BlumenthalM.Acute conjunctivokeratouveitis caused by latex from the pencil tree. Am J Ophthalmol1991; 112(4): 464–6.
19.
ShiQ.W., SuX.H., KiyotaH.Chemical and pharmacological research of the plants in genus Euphorbia. Chem Rev2008; 108(10): 4295–327. Epub 2008 Sep 25.
