Which chemical is most damaging in terms of chemical eye burns?

Alkali substances are especially damaging when it comes to chemical eye burns due to their ability to penetrate ocular tissues more deeply and cause severe injuries. Alkalis, such as those found in household cleaners and industrial chemicals, can cause liquefactive necrosis. This means they can disrupt the structural integrity of corneal tissues, leading to cell death and potentially irreversible damage, if not treated promptly.

In contrast, while acids can also cause significant harm to the eye, they typically create coagulative necrosis, which may limit the depth of the injury compared to alkalis. Neutral salts and solvents present different types of risks; neutral salts do not usually lead to burns but may cause irritation, and solvents can damage the tissues but do not typically penetrate as deeply or as aggressively as alkalis.

The swift severity and depth of penetration associated with alkali exposure make them critically dangerous in the context of chemical eye injuries, which is why they are regarded as the most damaging agents.