Case files of the medical toxicology fellowship at the university of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts: Stumbling through a blue haze

Abstract

Glaucopsia, or “Blue Haze,” is a transient disturbance of vision resulting from exposure to the vapor of certain industrial chemicals, notably amines that can be found in products such as spray-on polyurethane foams. Visual effects such as halos around bright objects, blue-grey vision, and fogging of vision typically appear within a few hours of exposure and resolve without permanent sequelae a few hours after removal of the exposure agent, although symptoms have been known to last up to 2–3 days. Effects are due to local corneal contamination leading to epithelial edema with associated microcysts that cause forward light scattering. The changes in vision can predispose individuals to accidents at the workplace as well as while driving. Measures to reduce or completely prevent ocular exposures to tertiary amines include wearing the proper personal protective equipment, avoiding wearing contact lenses that can act as reservoirs for amines, limiting exposure times, and keeping workplaces well ventilated to reduce vapor concentrations [17, 22].