Toxic anterior segment syndrome-More than sterility meets the eye

ABSTRACT
- TOXIC ANTERIOR SEGMENT SYNDROME (TASS) is a rare, potentially devastating complication of routine intraocular surgery that occurs when a noninfectious toxic agent enters the anterior segment of the eye, causing an inflammatory reaction.
- SEVERE CASES OF TASS can cause permanent harm, and if symptoms still are present after six weeks, the eye is not likely to recover.
- EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT are effective in preventing permanent damage, but often TASS is mistakenly diagnosed as infectious endophthalmitis for which treatment is completely different.
- THE CAUSES AND TREATMENT of TASS are discussed, and risk reduction strategies are described. AORN J 84 (December 2006) 968-984. © AORN, Inc, 2006.