A severe thermal or chemical burn to the eye

Acquired cataract - A severe thermal or chemical burn to the eye Factor

RMA Definition:

The RMA has defined a severe thermal or chemical burn as "a burn involving at least one of the following clinical features:

• greater than 50% involvement of the limbus or conjunctiva; or
• corneal anaesthesia; or
• a significant degree of corneal opacification; or
• for chemical burns only, penetration of the chemical into the anterior chamber".

General information – thermal burn to the eye

A thermal burn is generally understood to be a burn due to any hot or heated source or from chemical reactions that release heat (not a chemical burn).  Examples of heat releasing sources and reactions include welding tools, flames, heating devices, radiation or scalds from steam, hot or molten liquid.

Diagram of the eye

General information – chemical burn to the eye

Chemical exposure to the eye may result in a chemical burn to the eye.  Damage is usually limited to the front segment of the eye, including the cornea, the conjunctiva and occasionally the internal eye structures of the eye, including the lens.  Burns that penetrate deeper into the anterior chamber are the most severe, often causing cataracts.

Note: The RMA SOP factor is limited to chemical burns where the chemical penetrates into the anterior chamber.

Chemical burns to the eye can be divided into three categories: alkali burns, acid burns, and irritants.

Alkali burns are the most dangerous.  Alkalis (chemicals that have a high pH level) penetrate the surface of the eye and can cause severe injury to both the external structures like the cornea and the internal structures like the lens.

Common alkali substances contain the hydroxides of ammonia, lye, potassium hydroxide, magnesium, and lime.  Substances that may contain these chemicals include fertilizers, cleaning products (ammonia), drain cleaners (lye), oven cleaners, and plaster or cement (lime).

Acid burns result from chemicals with a low pH and are usually less severe than alkali burns because they do not penetrate into the eye as readily as alkaline substances.  Acids usually damage only the very front of the eye; however, they can cause serious damage to the cornea and also may result in blindness.

Common acids causing eye burns include sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, chromic acid, and hydrofluoric acid.  Substances that may contain these acids include glass polish (hydrofluoric acid), vinegar, nail polish remover (acetic acid), car batteries (sulfuric acid).  Car battery explosions are one of the most common causes of acidic burns of the eye.

Irritants are substances that have a neutral pH and tend to cause more discomfort to the eye than actual damage, however they can still cause a chemical burn.  Most household detergents fall into this category.

Last reviewed for CCPS 20 August 2008.

Investigative Documents

Preliminary questions [30923]

30930 there is some evidence that a severe thermal or chemical burn to the eye may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

30932 the veteran has had a severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body at some time.

30933  the veteran has established the causal connection between the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body and VEA service for acquired cataract.

30934   the veteran has established the causal connection between the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body and VEA service for the clinical onset of acquired cataract.

30936  the veteran has established the causal connection between the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body and operational service for the clinical onset of acquired cataract.

or

30937  the veteran has established the causal connection between the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body and eligible service for the clinical onset of acquired cataract.

or

7334     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.

7335     the condition under consideration permanently worsened.

30935   the veteran has established the causal connection between the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body and VEA service for the clinical worsening of acquired cataract.

30963  the veteran has established the causal connection between the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body and operational service for the clinical worsening of acquired cataract.

or

30964  the veteran has established the causal connection between the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body and eligible service for the clinical worsening of acquired cataract.

Clinical onset and operational service [30936]

30967 on operational service, the veteran had the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body.

30968 on operational service, the veteran had the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

30975 the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, on operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

30979 the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body was due to an illness or injury which is identifiable.

30980 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran had the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

30982  the identified illness or injury, which caused the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body, is causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [30937]

30971 on eligible service, the veteran had the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body.

30972 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran had the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body.

30973 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran had the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

30976 the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, on eligible service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

30979 the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body was due to an illness or injury which is identifiable.

30980 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran had the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

30983  the identified illness or injury, which caused the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body, is causally related to eligible service.

Clinical worsening and operational service [30963]

30967 on operational service, the veteran had the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body.

30969 as a causal result of operational service, the veteran had the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body.

30970 as a causal result of operational service, the veteran had the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

30977 the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration, on operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

30979 the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body was due to an illness or injury which is identifiable.

30981 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran had the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

30982  the identified illness or injury, which caused the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body, is causally related to operational service.

30984 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the identified illness or injury, which caused the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body, is causally related.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [30964]

30971 on eligible service, the veteran had the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body.

30972 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran had the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body.

30974 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran had the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

30978 the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration, on eligible service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

30979 the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body was due to an illness or injury which is identifiable.

30981 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran had the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

30983  the identified illness or injury, which caused the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body, is causally related to eligible service.

30985 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the identified illness or injury, which caused the severe thermal or chemical burn to side and site of the body, is causally related.