Eye specialists have cautioned that significant exposure to tear gas may lead to temporary blindness and other ocular issues, which, if not addressed promptly, could result in permanent vision loss.
They also pointed out that individuals lacking protective clothing and gear are at risk for corneal damage and conjunctivitis when exposed to tear gas.
The ophthalmologists recommended that anyone who has come into contact with tear gas should immediately flush their eyes and any affected skin with water.
This warning and guidance follow the recent 10-day protest that commenced on August 1, during which law enforcement used tear gas to disperse demonstrators.
Under the hashtags #Endbadgovernance and #Hungerprotests, numerous Nigerians across various states have expressed their discontent with the ongoing economic difficulties through placards and chants.
However, President Bola Tinubu, in a national address on Sunday, urged both protesters and organizers to halt future demonstrations and engage in dialogue.
Tear gas is a crowd control agent primarily employed by law enforcement to temporarily incapacitate individuals by irritating the eyes, mouth, throat, lungs, and skin.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prolonged exposure or a significant dose of tear gas can lead to conditions such as blindness, glaucoma, and respiratory failure, potentially resulting in death.
NAIJATRAFFIC learned that Prof. Afekhide Omoti, an ophthalmology professor at the University of Benin in Edo State, stated that extended exposure to tear gas in a confined space could result in blindness.
However, he pointed out that the likelihood of blindness decreases if tear gas is deployed in an open area.
The Chairman of the National Eye Health Committee mentioned, “ In the normal circumstances where tear gas is used in an open environment, it will not cause blindness.
“However, if there is prolonged exposure in a closed environment, it is possible that tear gas can cause blindness”.
Focusing on glaucoma and anterior segment disorders, he added that engaged physical activity, such as running after being exposed to tear gas, makes individuals more vulnerable to serious symptoms.
Omoti remarked, “As far as blindness is concerned, large doses may cause temporary blindness. However, in very unusual circumstances, and depending on the delivery system, more prolonged damage can occur. Explosive systems, particularly those used in the military, may cause thermal, chemical, and physical damage due to the blast. If left untreated, it can cause permanent blindness. But this is not the usual type used by the anti-riot police.”
He further noted that tear gas could exacerbate issues for individuals with corneal conditions but would not affect those suffering from cataracts or glaucoma.
He added, “Depending on the specific chemical agent used in the tear gas and the mode of delivery, tear gas can cause a variety of eye defects which include mild features such as blepharospasm, conjunctivitis and superficial keratitis.
“More severe complications which are very unlikely include corneal stromal opacities, corneal neovascularisation, neurotrophic keratopathy, conjunctival necrosis, and pseudopterygium. These are all problems with the cornea and conjunctiva, the surface structures of the eye.
“Ordinarily, those with glaucoma should not be at higher risk of blindness from tear gas use. However, if the explosive variety is used, and as I said earlier, this is not the usual type used in our civilian crowd control, then the physical effects may increase the intraocular pressure and worsen the glaucoma or even theoretically cause blindness in terminal stages. But I must again reiterate that this is not likely.”
The ophthalmologist expressed that if these eye defects were untreated, it could cause possible complications, which could lead to blindness.
“Untreated, possible complications which will cause blindness, especially in explosive cases include corneal neovascularisation, stromal thinning, ulceration, infection and perforation. Others include secondary glaucoma, cataract formation, vitreous haemorrhage and traumatic optic neuropathy which are physical complications of the explosive which are not normally used in civilian crowd control,” Omoti said.
Dr Abiola Oyeleye
Dr. Abiola Oyeleye, President of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria, warned that tear gas can cause eye and skin irritation, and respiratory issues when inhaled.
Direct eye exposure can lead to structural damage and potentially cause blindness, emphasizing the risks of tear gas to vision and overall health.
“So if we are specific now about the eyes, what it does, it irritates the eye, and anything that irritates the eye causes tears, and that’s where the name tear gas is from.
“So the eye sends a message to the brain that something is irritating me and the brain now sends a message to the tear glands saying something is irritating the eye, send tears to the eye, the tear glands now function and send tears to the eye, so it’s a response to whatever agent has caused it, that’s where the name tear gas comes from.”
He further said, “If it’s spread directly to the eye, it can penetrate the eye and cause damage to the structures of the eye. The outermost structure of the eye is the conjunctiva, which is the clear part of the eye, over the white of the eye and then the cornea, which is the centre of the eye is transparent. So the cornea is the protective layer of the eye which can get scarred by tear gas.
“Tear gas can cause irritation and subsequent scarring of the cornea which could lead to blindness. It (tear gas) can also be absorbed into other parts of the eyes and cause other problems. Sometimes, it’s just a little irritation and sometimes it can penetrate and cause blindness because of damage to some of the structures of the eye.”
According to Dr. Oyeleye, the use of highly toxic or expired tear gas can worsen eye damage, while prolonged exposure can also exacerbate pre-existing eye conditions like cataracts and glaucoma, leading to more severe complications.
“It can irritate and damage the inside of the eye, causing inflammation of the eye, inflammation could make glaucoma worse and it can also make cataracts get worse. But these are when it’s a serious dose you get, when it’s quite serious, that’s when you have things like that. But the common things you have is just irritation of the surface of the eye, which can be washed off, but you can get severe ones and have more problems,” he noted.
He encouraged protesters to wear protective clothing to minimise the effects of tear gas on their eyes, skin, and respiratory system.
Oyeleye counseled ,“Whoever is going to be on the other side of it should try and cover most of their body as much as possible, wear goggles and in case they are sprayed, let them go and look for water to wash the places of impact, it’s important.”
The eye doctor explained that artificial tear drops could be applied to completely wash off the substance to prevent damage to the eyes.
“Don’t wait till you go to the hospital to do it, what you do within the first one or two minutes is more important than what would be done in the hospital. You might still need to go to the hospital, but the most important thing is immediate irrigation of the eye,” Oyeleye stated.
Dr. Oyeleye cautioned that individuals providing assistance to those affected by tear gas should take protective measures, as they can also be impacted and experience similar adverse reactions, emphasizing the importance of self-protection during aid efforts.
