US EPA

1317240 

Journal Article 

Allergic Hand Dermatitis from 2-Hydroxyethyl-acrylate in Contact Lenses 

Peters, K; Andersen, KE 

1986 

Yes 

Contact Dermatitis
ISSN: 0105-1873
EISSN: 1600-0536 

NIOSH/00165550 

15 

3 

188-189 

Case reports of allergic hand dermatitis from 2-hydroxyethyl-acrylate (818611) (HEA) in contact lenses were described. A 29 year old female was seen with recurrent hand dermatitis localized to the sides of the fingers and palms after 6 weeks of working with monomers used in manufacturing soft disposable contact lenses. A 44 year old male who was also employed in manufacturing soft contact lenses developed recurrent dermatitis on the dorsa of the hands and sides of the fingers after 6 months of work. After 2 years employment, he complained of systemic symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Both patients were patch tested with the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group (ICDRG) standard series of allergens and chemical constituents of the lenses: HEA, 2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate (868779) (HEMA), and ethyleneglycol-di-methacrylate (97905) (EDMA). The female patient was negative to the ICDRG series. She was positive to HEA and HEMA, but not EDMA. The male patient showed a positive response to formaldehyde (50000) in the ICDRG battery and to HEA. Patch testing did not reproduce the systemic symptoms. The authors note that this is the first report of contact allergy to HEA. 

DCN-152148; Skin disorders; Organic chemicals; Acrylates; Skin tests; Contact lenses; Skin sensitivity; Sensitivity testing; Patch tests; Case studies