Did I Harm My Eyes After Cleaning With Bleach?

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Did I harm my eyes after cleaning with bleach? SEP 07, 2023 Question:
I cleaned my basement for two hours with pure bleach, with no ventilation. I saw an ophthalmologist three days later and she found no damage. Would she have been able to see any possible damage I may have had? My eyes are light sensitive these last few days since the exposure.
Answer:
If someone has been exposed to a noxious chemical, such as bleach, evidence of corneal damage would likely have shown up by three days after exposure. If you still have symptoms, you may still be recovering from the initial damage. However, it is possible there may be fine particles embedded under the eyelids giving irritation that may not have been obvious upon initial examination. Therefore, if you continue to have symptoms of eye redness, light sensitivity, blurring of vision, or discharge, you should see your ophthalmologist again for a recheck.This question was originally answered on Oct. 11, 2017.
Answered By: Omar R Chaudhary, MD Injuries
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