Surgery

• Surgical measures may be necessary after severe chemical injuries when the initial injury has healed.
  
  
  • Chemical injuries may necessitate surgery to the eyelids to restore good eyelid closure to protect the eye.
    
    
  • If the surface of the eye is severely damaged, a specialized set of cells called Limbal stem cells may be damaged and require replacement to prevent surface scarring.
    
    
  • If the cornea becomes opaque (or cloudy) following a chemical injury, a corneal transplant may be required.
    
    
  • Chemical injuries, especially from alkaline substances, can also cause cataracts and glaucoma, which may also require later surgical intervention.