Can Household Products Harm Your Baby?

Beware of Bleach

Bleach, a common household cleanser, is very dangerous to the eyes because it is considered a "base" product, which is the opposite of an "acid." Most people think that acids are more damaging to the eyes, and while they are dangerous, base products (products with high PH levels) can more seriously damage the eyes. The reason for this is that the eye is made up of numerous proteins, and base products, such as bleach, behave as though they are almost feeding on these proteins, allowing the bleach or base product to remain active longer and potentially do more significant damage to the eye.

Dr. Paul M. Karpecki, director of ophthalmic research for Moyes Eye Center in Kansas City, Mo., provides the following advice for working with bleach:

• If bleach actually gets in the eye, the key is to wash the eye with tap water for at least 10 minutes and then call your eye doctor to be examined immediately.
• If someone is working around bleach products and the eyes become irritated due to fumes or small amounts of bleach in the air, it is important to still clean and lubricate the eyes as much as possible. The best way to do this is with the use of artificial tears such as Refresh Tears. A good recommendation would be to use these artificial tears before working around such products and at least every 30 minutes during. However, if bleach actually gets in the eye the only solution is to wash it out with tap water for a minimum of 10 minutes and then see an eye doctor.
• For general irritation, cool compresses might also soothe the eyes, but the most important thing is to continue to keep the eyes well lubricated via artificial tears.
• Stay clear of the products on the market that claim to "get the red out," which are vasoconstrictors. Vasoconstrictors constrict blood flow to the eye and cause rebound redness, furthering the problem rather than mitigating it.
• If someone finds they are in a situation where bleach could splash into their eyes, are a strong recommendation.