[Eye injuries caused by chemical burns: measure the pH]

Patients suffering from eye injuries often present to emergency departments outside ophthalmology consultation opening hours. Chemical and thermal burns account for 7-18% of eye injuries. This article describes the clinical presentation and initial management of chemical burns, as well as a brief description of existing specialist treatments. Abundant irrigation is crucial in the initial management of ocular burns to remove the chemical and prevent scarring. Equipment for measuring pH should be available in emergency departments. Specialist treatment focuses on limiting damage, promoting healing and preventing complications. In this article, we propose a protocol for the initial management of ocular burns.