A recent research letter published by ophthalmologists in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports a significant increase in serious eye injuries from exposure to highly-concentrated detergents in the increasingly popular laundry detergent pods made by various companies.1
Chemical injuries from these potent detergents can cause permanent eye-related complications including loss of vision. The researchers note that young children are at especially high risk of exposure to these products because the pods are brightly-colored and have the appearance of candy.1 Exposure can occur when they are mishandled because the pod casings are easily ruptured, perforated or dissolved.
A total of 12 cases of detergent pod-related injuries were reported in 2012 but the numbers have increased over time, with a total of 480 cases reported in 2015, the last year analyzed by the researchers. This increase corresponds with increased sales and use of laundry detergent pods.1
As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Put your laundry detergents out of reach of small children, just as you would do with any other harmful chemicals, and educate older toddlers and other children in your care that these products can be harmful. If a child in your care gets these or other harmful chemicals in his eyes, a rapid response is critical since damage can occur very rapidly. Flush the affected eye(s) with a steady stream of clean water for at least 10-15 minutes. While flushing the eye, hold the eyelid open and avoid allowing the run off to go into the other eye or be inhaled or ingested by the child. Do not allow the child to rub the eyes before or after flushing and make sure any residual detergent on the child's hands is washed off. Next, take your child, without delay, to an eye care professional for examination of the eyes, additional flushing and subsequent management of complications.
1. Haring RS, Sheffield ID, Frattaroli S. Detergent pod-related eye injuries among preschool-aged children. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online February 2, 2017. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2016.5694. Accessed February 3, 2017.
Chemical injuries from these potent detergents can cause permanent eye-related complications including loss of vision. The researchers note that young children are at especially high risk of exposure to these products because the pods are brightly-colored and have the appearance of candy.1 Exposure can occur when they are mishandled because the pod casings are easily ruptured, perforated or dissolved.
A total of 12 cases of detergent pod-related injuries were reported in 2012 but the numbers have increased over time, with a total of 480 cases reported in 2015, the last year analyzed by the researchers. This increase corresponds with increased sales and use of laundry detergent pods.1
As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Put your laundry detergents out of reach of small children, just as you would do with any other harmful chemicals, and educate older toddlers and other children in your care that these products can be harmful. If a child in your care gets these or other harmful chemicals in his eyes, a rapid response is critical since damage can occur very rapidly. Flush the affected eye(s) with a steady stream of clean water for at least 10-15 minutes. While flushing the eye, hold the eyelid open and avoid allowing the run off to go into the other eye or be inhaled or ingested by the child. Do not allow the child to rub the eyes before or after flushing and make sure any residual detergent on the child's hands is washed off. Next, take your child, without delay, to an eye care professional for examination of the eyes, additional flushing and subsequent management of complications.
1. Haring RS, Sheffield ID, Frattaroli S. Detergent pod-related eye injuries among preschool-aged children. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online February 2, 2017. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2016.5694. Accessed February 3, 2017.