Background: We report a patient who developed allergic contact dermatitis after using a purified sodium hyaluronate ophthalmic solution (Hyalein^® Mini) recognized as being extremely safe.
Case report: A 67-year-old woman presented to our hospital with a chief complaint of poor visual acuity. She had dry eye, cataract and ptosis in both eyes, and underwent crystalline lens reconstruction and ptosis surgery in both eyes. Postoperatively, her dry eye showed exacerbation and she developed Sjögren's syndrome. Keratoconjunctival epithelial disorders were controllable with lacrimal punctum plugs, Hyalein^® Mini and 0.1% fluorometholone ophthalmic suspension. The patient, however, repeatedly developed blepharitis, and allergic contact dermatitis was diagnosed with a positive patch test to ε-aminocaproic acid, an excipient in Hyalein^® Mini. Since switching to an ophthalmic solution without ε-aminocaproic acid, the allergic contact dermatitis has not recurred.
Conclusion: When the same ophthalmic solution is used for chronic disease for a long time, it should be noted that allergic contact dermatitis may develop.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 118: 111-115, 2014.