Corneal ulcer after exposure to vapours from bone cement (methyl methacrylate and hydroquinone).

An operation nurse repeatedly developed a corneal ulcer while mixing bone cement. It is suggested that the ulcer developed because of a composite effect of vapours from bone cement (methyl methacrylate monomer and hydroquinone), in spite of the fact that the Occupational Health Guidelines and the national threshold limit values for chemical substances had been respected. In-vitro and in-vivo animal studies are reviewed.