Dr. Brian Armstrong warned about the severe risks to children's eyes from unintended exposure to self-dispensing hand sanitizers, which can cause significant damage to the cornea, for example. Armstrong, a consultant at the Eye Institute of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, explained that most hand sanitizers contain high concentrations of alcohol that begin to penetrate the corneal surface immediately. In such cases, doctors recommend washing the eye immediately with plenty of water, and it may require manually opening the eye.
Armstrong cautioned that delaying treatment for such injuries could have serious consequences for children compared to adults, as their vision is still in development at such an early age when it cannot grow and develop properly, leading to a higher risk of vision impairment at this age. Additionally, the likelihood of complications after a corneal transplant, if necessary, is significantly higher in this age group.
Dr. Armstrong advises parents to use soap and water alongside hand sanitizer with their children whenever possible. If that is not feasible, parents should use chemically neutral and natural hand sanitizing solutions under strict supervision and teach their children to use only a small amount, ensuring that their hands are completely dry before touching their eyes. If children do use hand sanitizer and then rub their eyes, they should wash their eyes with water immediately and go to the hospital if there is any blurriness or pain in the eye.
