Conjunctival Argyrosis Following Silver Nitrate Injury

Virintorn Prapakornkovit, Chalisa Jitudomtham, Weerawat Kiddee, Orasa Horatanaruang, Lalitwadee Chotuk

Abstract

This report describes a rare case of conjunctival argyrosis secondary to a silver nitrate burn, and its clinical presentation, management, and outcome. A 41-year-old female nursing assistant presented with immediate severe irritation in her left eye after accidental exposure to a silver nitrate stick. The injury was classified as a grade II chemical burn, based on Dua’s classification. The initial management included copious irrigation with a balanced salt solution, followed by the administration of topical steroids and antibiotics, artificial tears, oral doxycycline, and oral vitamin C. Shortly after treatment, a gray-white hyperpigmented patch developed at the site of the conjunctival burn, consistent with conjunctival argyrosis. The patient experienced no associated vision loss or significant ocular complications during the limited follow-up period. Silver nitrate exposure can lead to conjunctival argyrosis, an uncommon but visually benign sequela. Early recognition and appropriate management are essential for optimizing patient outcomes.

 Keywords

argyrosis; chemical injury; conjunctival burn; ocular argyrosis; silver nitrate

 Full Text:

PDF

References

Stafeeva K, Erlanger M, Velez-Montoya R, Olson JL. Ocular argyrosis secondary to long-term ingestion of silver nitrate salts. Clin Ophthalmol 2012;6:2033-6. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S37898.

Gallardo MJ, Randleman JB, Price KM, Johnson DA, Acosta S, Grossniklaus HE, et al. Ocular argyrosis after long-term self-application of eyelash tint. Am J Ophthalmol 2006;141:198-200. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2005.07.054.

Khalil MZ, Malik TG, Munawar S, Shafique MM. Use of silver nitrate in superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis. Pak J Ophthalmol 2013;29:171-4.

Lansdown ABG. A pharmacological and toxicological profile of silver as an antimicrobial agent in medical devices. Adv Pharmacol Sci 2010;2010:910686. doi: 10.1155/2010/910686.

Buckley WR, Terhaar CJ. The skin as an excretory organ in argyria. Trans St Johns Hosp Dermatol Soc 1973;59:39-44.

Loeffler KU, Lee WR. Argyrosis of the lacrimal sac. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 1987;225:146-50. doi: 10.1007/BF02160348.

Lansdown ABG, Williams A, Chandler S, Benfield S. Silver absorption and antibacterial efficacy of silver dressings. J Wound Care 2005;14:155-60. doi: 10.12968/jowc.2005.14.4.26762.

Labelle P. The eye. In: Zachary JF, editor. Pathologic basis of veterinary disease. 6th ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2017;p.1265-318.e1. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-323-35775-3.00021-7.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31584/jhsmr.20261430

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.