OCULAR TOXICITY OF CASTOR OIL: ABOUT THREE CASES.

Castor oil is extracted from the seeds of the tropical plant Ricinus communis.

Its applications are multiple either in the industrial or cosmetic field.

However, its ocular effects are not well known.

the purpose of this work is to report through these three cases, the ocular toxicity of castor oil.

These are three patients aged 19 / 32 / 28 years old, with no particular pathological history, admitted to the emergency room for the installation of a painful red eye 24 hours after the application of castor oil for aesthetic purposes (used for nourish and promote hair growth).

The ophthalmological examination finds: for the three patients:

A slight decrease in visual acuity.

Diffuse conjunctival inflammation with clear secretions and bilateral paralimbic superficial punctate keratitis, the rest of the examination is normal.

The three patients were put under twice-daily eye wash with saline solution, a combination of antibiotics and corticosteroid eye drops (Tobramycin / Dexamethasone) with artificial tears without preservatives.

The evolution was spectacular with a total disappearance of the ocular signs from the 5th day.

Castor oil is extracted from the seeds of the tropical plant Ricinus communis, it is produced by cold pressing the seeds of the plant and then clarifying the oil with heat.

Its applications are multiple either in the industrial or cosmetic field. Castor oil and hydrogenated castor oil were used in 769 and 202 cosmetic products respectively in 2002.

However, its ocular effects are not well known.

In 1946 Carpenter and Smyth evaluated the potential eye irritation of castor oil on rabbit eye, showing 18 to 24 hours after instillation of one drop of undiluted castor oil (0 .5 ml) severe corneal damage.

Another study conducted by Gluud et al, in 1981, studied the reaction of the eyes of 50 patients to castor oil. The authors concluded that castor oil affects the cornea and conjunctiva.

Behrens-Baumann et al, in 1986, investigating the effects of castor oil on the cornea of ​​rabbits, by microscopy analysis, concluded that castor oil did not damage the cornea.

Most recently in 2007, a panel of Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) experts reviewed castor oil safety trial data. The available data demonstrate few ocular toxic effects.

The results of studies conducted on the ocular toxicity of castor oil are highly controversial.

However, we report three cases of keratoconjunctivitis, following the application of castor oil justifying the interest of prevention.