Allergic contact dermatitis from a perinone-type dye C.I. Solvent Red 179 in spectacle frames

Allergic contact dermatitis from dyes used in the temple of spectacles

BACKGROUND

We observed an increasing number of patients who presented with facial or retro-auricular dermatitis after skin contact with plastic spectacles or plastic covered temples.

OBJECTIVES

To identify the allergens in plastic spectacles that may cause allergic contact dermatitis.

METHODS

All patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis to eyewear were tested with Solvent Orange 60 (SO60), four additionally with Solvent Yellow 14 (SY14), and five with scrapings from their own spectacles. In one case, a chemical analysis of the spectacles was performed to uncover the causative allergen.

RESULTS

Three patients were allergic to SO60, two patients to SY14, and two patients were allergic to both SO60 and SY14.

CONCLUSION

Patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis from spectacles should be tested with SO60 and SY14, and based on findings from previous reports, also with Solvent Red 179.

Materials and allergens within spectacle frames: a review

The materials that have been reported as causing allergic contact dermatitis within spectacle frames are identified, and their most likely location on the frame is highlighted. The lack of any real control over spectacle frame quality and content is indicated to be a problem, as is the difficulty in determining the true source of many frames. Much of the information must be obtained from anonymous sources in the industry, historical 'common knowledge' of indeterminate source or reports of dermatological problems.