Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is harming children’s eyes. A recent study by a Paris children’s hospital reported a sevenfold increase in accidental eye injuries to kids under the age of 18 – increased exposure to public hand sanitizers is suspected as the primary cause. Hand sanitizers consist mainly of isopropyl alcohol, which is toxic to delicate structures like the eye. The increase in sanitizer-related eye injuries in children is most likely due to the increased availability of public hand sanitizer dispensers, and the fact that they are typically placed at children’s eye level. Children who use the sanitizer, often without their parent’s knowledge, then rub their eyes before the alcohol has evaporated. Although exposure to the alcohol in sanitizer can lead to blindness or corneal ulcers, most reported cases have been relatively mild in severity. Learn more about the safe use of hand sanitizer at http://bit.ly/3pz04Y7
