@article{961438678f3145969818e4d919a66ce8,
title = "Bilateral optic atrophy caused by chronic oral ingestion and topical application of hexachlorophene",
abstract = "A 31-year-old woman ingested hexachlorophene (pHisoHex) over a tenmonth period. She developed bilateral optic atrophy with no other systemic evidence of neurotoxicity. This case supports pathologists' findings that the optic nerve and chiasm are particularly sensitive to the poisonous effects of hexachlorophene.",
author = "Slamovits, {Thomas L.} and Burde, {Ronald M.} and Klingele, {Terence G.}",
note = "Funding Information: In March 1975, a 31-year-old woman with visual loss was referred here. She and her family had no history of ocular problems. At age 29 years she had a {"}spell{"} of bilateral blindness with right-sided numbness and weakness lasting about five minutes with complete resolution and no recurrences. She underwent surgery in March 1974 to remove a growth from her right ear. After this, she began taking an estimated 10 to 15 ml of hexachlorophene (pHisoHex) orally daily during the next ten to 11 months. She also applied large amounts of hexachlorophene to her face every day as self-treatment for pimples. She was depressed during this time. She noted no headache, diplopia or dizziness, but may have had intermittent numbness of her left foot. In January 1975 she noted decreasing vision, first in her right eye, described as a superior visual field loss that progressed inferiorly. She saw a physician several days later. By that time her visual acuity was poor in the right eye and also abnormal in the left eye. She was told that she had optic atrophy and was referred to us for further examination. She was taking no medications with the exception of the hexachlorophene. She reported no exposure to chemicals other than hexachlorophene. Ophthalmic examination revealed a visual acuity of RE.: hand motions and L.E.: 6/90 (20/300). Both pupils were round and 6 mm in diameter. The left pupil reacted more rapidly to light than the right pupil, and there was no afferent pupillary defect on the right. The near response was normal in both eyes. The patient could not detect the isochromatic color plates with her right eye; with the left eye she From the Departments of Ophthalmology (Drs. Slamovits, Burde, and Klingele) and Neurology (Dr. Burde), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. This study was supported in part by a grant from Research To Prevent Blindness, Inc., New York, New York. Dr. Slamovits was a Heed Foundation Fellow (1979-1980). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",
year = "1980",
month = may,
doi = "10.1016/0002-9394(80)90287-1",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "89",
pages = "680--691",
journal = "American journal of ophthalmology",
issn = "0002-9394",
publisher = "Elsevier USA",
number = "5",
}