Visual disorders due to organic solvent poisoning

Abstract

Visual ability has increasingly become very important in recent years in industry which has become highly automated with the rapid introduction of computers. On the other hand, visual disorders due to occupational activity pose a serious occupational health problem. Many cases of visual disorders due to organic solvent poisoning have been reported, but there are few systematic studies on them. Many kinds and large volumes of organic solvents are being used in industry to which many workers are exposed. Therefore, it is considered very important for occupational health to review the literature on visual disorders due to organic solvent poisoning. Visual disorders due to carbon disulfide, n-hexane, methanol, toluene, trichloroethylene, buthanols, methylethylketone (MEK), styrene and mixed or unidentified solvents were reviewed together with corneal ulcer, lenticular changes, visual field changes, retinal changes, visual acuity impairment, acquired dyschromatopsia and other visual disorders due to these solvents. Visual disorders are often accompanied with impairment of the central and/or peripheral nervous system and can serve as early indicators of their impairment due to organic solvent poisoning. Especially, acquired dyschromatopsia can be an indicator for the early diagnosis of CNS impairment due to organic solvent poisoning. © 1988, Japan Society for Occupational Health. All rights reserved.