Protect children’s eyes from fabric detergent capsules

Parents are being warned to protect their child’s eyesight by keeping liquid capsule fabric detergents out of their reach.

In 2009, 40 per cent of chemical eye injuries in children under the age of five resulted from getting chemicals from these capsules into their eyes.

The Guy’s and St Thomas’ Poisons Unit received a further 192 enquires related to children and these capsules during 2007-08 and 225 in 2006-07.

Of these calls, a fifth of incidents were related to chemical exposure to the child’s eye.

Most popular liquid detergent capsules are made from a polyvinyl alcohol membrane designed to dissolve in water.

Inside is a detergent made from anionic detergent, non-ionic detergent and cationic surfactant.

When these chemicals dissolve in water it creates a potentially dangerous alkaline solution.

The type of injuries resulting from this alkali exposure can range from severe and irreversible chemical eye damage leading to lifelong constant discomfort, scarring and lazy eye.

The warning comes from senior eye doctors in this week’s British Medical Journal.

The research authors say: “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.”