Paraquat causes chronic ocular surface toxicity

We describe a case of topical exposure to a commercial solution of paraquat. Chronic, severe ocular surface destruction resulted, probably due to absorption of the herbicide into the surface tissues, facilitated by a surfactant present in the preparation, and to intracellular redox cycling of the paraquat cation. Ocular paraquat toxicity is described and explained in the context of the toxicity of systemic absorption. Language: en