is the mercury in eye drops like Visine harmful?
368680
Thimerosol (a mercury derivative) used to be used quite frequently as a preservative in eyedrops.  However, there are so many people that are sensitive to thimerosol (have allergic reactions) that it's rarely used anymore.  If you aren't allergic, it shouldn't be harmful to you if you use the drops in moderation.
470037
It depends on the drug. Two of them that I know that damage the eyes are asparin and antibiotics
321196
it depends on how much mercury youve been exposed to. if it was a lot, then yes, you may possibly have long-term affects. go see your doctor if you are unsure. i hope you are OK.\nGOOD LUCK!!!
67424
if the fluid is red than it is alcohol. if the fluid is silver than it mercury. either way you probably did not get enough in your blood to hurt you. If you are still concerned contact poison control or a doctor.
223723
have you tried visine? or is it more than just the capillaries in the eyes?
517398
Magnesium and trace amonts of mercury.
686338
mercury is pretty damn toxic - it sends you mad!
713053
I  don't know if there are different forms of it or not, but here is one thing I just found:  I don't know if it is mixed with something that it is different, but it appears to be harmful separate, but itself in this form.  http://www.uiowa.edu/~chemsafe/MSDS/Sodium-metabisulfite.htm\n\nMaterial Safety Data Sheet\nMSDS Name Sodium metabisulfite, reagent ACS, 97+%  \nSection 2 - Composition, Information on Ingredients  \nCAS#  Chemical Name  %  EINECS#   \n7681-57-4  Sodium metabisulfite, reagent ACS  97+%  231-673-0   \n\nSection 3 - Hazards Identification  \n\nEMERGENCY OVERVIEW \nHarmful if swallowed. Contact with acids liberates toxic gas.\nIrritating to eyes and respiratory system.Moisture sensitive.Air sensitive.\n\nPOTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS \nEye Causes eye irritation.\n \nSkin May cause skin irritation.\n \nIngestion Harmful if swallowed. May cause irritation of the digestive tract.\n \nInhalation Causes respiratory tract irritation.\n \nChronic Not available.\n \n\nSection 4 - First aid Measures  \n\nEyes Flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting the upper and lower lids. Get medical aid.\n \nSkin Flush skin with plenty of soap and water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes.\n \nIngestion Get medical aid. Wash mouth out with water.\n \nInhalation Remove from exposure to fresh air immediately. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen.\nGet medical aid.\n \nNotes to Physician Treat symptomatically and  \n\nSection 5 - Fire Fighting Measures  \n\nGeneral Information As in any fire, wear a self-contained breathing apparatus in pressure-demand, MSHA/NIOSH (approved or equivalent), and full protective gear. Substance is noncombustible.\n \nExtinguishing Media Substance is noncombustible; use agent most appropriate to extinguish surrounding fire.\n \nAutoignition Temperature Not available.\n \nFlash Point Not available.\n \nNFPA Rating Not published.\n \nExplosion Limits Lower: Not available.\nUpper: Not available.\n\nSection 6 - Accidental Release Measures  \n\nGeneral Information Use proper personal protective equipment as indicated in Section 8.\n \nSpills/Leaks Sweep up, then place into a suitable container for disposal. Avoid generating dusty conditions.\n\nSection 7 - Handling and Storage  \n\nHandling Avoid breathing dust, vapor, mist, or gas. Avoid contact with skin and eyes.\n \nStorage Store in a cool, dry place. Store in a tightly closed container.\n\nSection 8 - Exposure Controls, Personal Protection  \n\nEngineering Controls Use adequate general or local exhaust ventilation to keep airborne concentrations below the permissible exposure limits.\n\nPERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT \n \nEyes Wear safety glasses and chemical goggles if splashing is possible.\n \nSkin Wear appropriate protective gloves to prevent skin exposure.\n \nClothing Wear appropriate protective clothing to minimize contact with skin.\n \nRespirators Wear a NIOSH/MSHA or European Standard EN 149 approved full-facepiece airline respirator in the positive pressure mode with emergency escape provisions.\n\nSection 9 - Physical and Chemical Properties  \n\nPhysical State Powder  \nAppearance white  \nOdor sulforous odor  \npH Not available.\n \nVapor Pressure Negligible.\n \nViscosity Not available.\n \nBoiling Point Not available.\n \nFreezing/Melting Point Not available.\n \nDecomposition Temperature Not available.\n \nSolubility 470 g/l water  \nSpecific Gravity/Density Not available.\n \nMolecular Formula Na2S2O5  \nMolecular Weight 190.11  \n\nSection 10 - Stability and Reactivity  \n\nChemical Stability Not available.\n \nConditions to Avoid Incompatible materials, exposure to air, acids, exposure to moist air or water, temperatures above 125C.\n \nIncompatibilities with Other Materials Strong oxidizing agents, acids, sodium nitrate.\n \nHazardous Decomposition Products Oxides of sulfur.\n \nHazardous Polymerization Has not be
948477
There are certain levels that are safe to eat like in fish, but these levels are very low.If you ingest any substantial amounts, it can be fatal.\nCheck out this website for some more info:\nhttp://www.pp.okstate.edu/ehs/training/mercury.htm\n\nAlso, \n\nCheck with the FDA on their mercury regulations to give you a better idea. :)
291393
I would stay away from that.  If you're having trouble with your vision I would see an optometrist.  If you need to cleanse your eyes, I suggest visine, used according to the directions.
431314
Possibly an allergy to a chemical in the solution you use. You could try switching solutions to see if it helps. It'll probably be a good idea to call your optometrist and ask him too.
937811
it will only hurt you if you eat it, like more than what's dry on your finger.  it's alcohol, so it will burn your eyes and i'm not sure about what happens if you eat it.  you can go to yahoo search and look up msds, then put in the product name to find all the cautions
467413
It's not been studied a lot simply because it's not very common. \n\nStudies in general have found it to not be particularly toxic; in fact, it's been studied as a possible co-agent in treating malaria with chlorquinine. A study in dogs fed them 30mg/kg for 6 months with no detected toxicity.\n\nOne study did find that inhalation of highly-concentrated amounts caused epithelial lesions in the nose and throat, but in general, it's considered safe at low concentrations. As in any case where you don't feel comfortable with chemical exposure, contact OSHA.
798774
I'm a RN who has taught Nursing for over 20 years in numerous clinical settings.  I am so sorry to hear about your father's health problems and I understand your concern about how to best manage the symptoms medically.  You have described his lab results and present symptoms very well.  Except for the constipation which can be quite easily managed, the remainder of his symptoms are significant CNS symptoms causing his brain dysfunction.  I agree with his doctors' provisional diagnosis based on the medical/clinical information you presented and also encourage you to facilitate chelation therapy  for your dad as soon as possible.  BAL is a harmless compound used for binding the mercuric ion to it but the therapeutic usefulness of BAL depends on its immediate administration at the acute onset of the mercury poisoning.   I think that it would be no longer useful for your dad.  I believe that your dad is experiencing chronic mercury poisoning  and Penicillamine may well be the drug of choice.  Penicillamine can be administered orally and appears to chelate mercury selectively, with considerably less effect on copper, which is essential to many metabolic processes.  Your dad's copper level was borderline low so you would want to preserve as much copper as possible which Penicillamine does.  Penicillamine has an advantage of being well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and promotes the excretion of mercury in the urine.  N-Acetyl-dl-penicillamine is even more effective than Penicillamine in protecting against the effects of mercury on the brain, probably because it is more resistant to metabolic degradation, and it has the advantage of being less toxic.  I'm not as familiar with the use of DMSA or DMPS as chelating agents for mercury removal from the brain.  Also you did not mention your dad's kidney function.  Mercury is highly toxic to the kidneys and I suggest that the functioning of his kidneys be evaluated.  I also suggest that your dad be assessed by a neurologist as soon as possible if that has not yet occurred due to the serious CNS symptoms that your dad is presently experiencing.  I wish your dad God's blessings and healing touch.  Good luck to you.
27479
Chlorine can cause major eye damage in it's concentrated form. However, in pool water chloring is highly diluted and will not burn your eyes. The american redcross gives tips on pool safety, and the only one regarding eye protection is to protect your eyes from UV sun exposure. Based upon this information I would say that the suns UV rays have a much greater potential for eye damage than diluted chlorine.
595165
well..that's a very good question..\nfetal brain has higher affinity for mercury than adults..so what would be considred safe dosage for adults isn't for fetuses..\n\nHowever, do tunas contain high enough mercury to harm a fetus...\n\nI'd think eating tuna sporadically would be OK..but i wouldn't eat it every other day...\n\nBut honestly, if it were my child, I wouldn't.  My wife stayed away from anything that may have any toxins..\n\nThe truth of the matter is, we don't really know what dosage is safe dosage for fetus(FDA has been wrong in many accounts)...I'd rather play safe with my kid...my 2 cents..
789345
Take "Blink" eye drops (manufactured by AMO). These are new drops (sodium Hyaluronate---filled in eye ball naturally also,, AND has transient preservative so that your eye receives  "preservative-free" drop). Put 2 drops each eye, 4 times a day. Its visco-elastic property will give you great relief.\nIf you do not find it at a chemist shop, you will get it at "contact-lens" shop.