| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
1 From the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Helsinki, Finland; 2 The Netherlands Ophthalmic Research Institute, Amsterdam; 3 Instituto de Neurosciencias, Universidad Miguel Hernandez-CSIC, San Juan de Alicante, Spain; the 4 Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata," Italy; 5 Helsinki City Police Department, Finland.
PURPOSE. To examine the potential harmful effects on corneal structure, innervation, and sensitivity of a spray containing the neurotoxin capsaicin (oleoresin capsicum, OC).
METHODS. Ten police officers who volunteered for the study were exposed to OC. Clinical signs were assessed. Corneal sensitivity was measured using a Cochet–Bonnet or a noncontact esthesiometer that provides separate measurements of mechanical, chemical, and thermal sensitivity. Tear fluid nerve growth factor (NGF) was measured. Corneal cell layers and subbasal nerves were examined by in vivo confocal microscopy. The subjects were examined before application and 30 minutes, 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after OC exposure.
RESULTS. OC spray produced occasional areas of focal epithelial cell damage that healed within 1 day. Each eye showed conjunctival hyperemia and in two subjects, mild chemosis. All except one eye had unchanged best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). A transient decrease (day 1) of mechanical sensitivity was observed with the Cochet–Bonnet esthesiometer. With the gas esthesiometer, mechanical sensitivity remained below normal values for 7 days. Chemical sensitivity to CO2 was high for as much as 1 day and decreased below normal 1 week later, whereas sensitivity to cold was unaffected. Two subjects had measurable tear NGF that increased after exposure. Basal epithelial cell morphology suggested temporary corneal epithelial swelling, whereas keratocytes, endothelial cells, and subbasal nerves remained unchanged.
CONCLUSIONS. Although OC causes immediate changes in mechanical and chemical sensitivity that may persist for a week, a single exposure to OC appears harmless to corneal tissues. The changes are possibly associated with damage of corneal nerve terminals of mainly unmyelinated polymodal nociceptor fibers.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Capsicum Annuum Extract, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Capsicum Annuum Resin, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Powder, Capsicum Frutescens Fruit, Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract, Capsicum Frutescens Resin, and Capsaicin International Journal of Toxicology, January 1, 2007; 26(1_suppl): 3 - 106. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. Ghinelli, J. Johansson, J. D. Rios, L.-L. Chen, D. Zoukhri, R. R. Hodges, and D. A. Dartt Presence and Localization of Neurotrophins and Neurotrophin Receptors in Rat Lacrimal Gland Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., August 1, 2003; 44(8): 3352 - 3357. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 I Jalbert, F Stapleton, E Papas, D F Sweeney, and M Coroneo In vivo confocal microscopy of the human cornea Br. J. Ophthalmol., February 1, 2003; 87(2): 225 - 236. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. E. Rosenberg, T. M. T. Tervo, J. Gallar, M. C. Acosta, L. J. Müller, J. A. O. Moilanen, A. H. A. Tarkkanen, and M. H. Vesaluoma Corneal Morphology and Sensitivity in Lattice Dystrophy Type II (Familial Amyloidosis, Finnish Type) Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., March 1, 2001; 42(3): 634 - 641. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
