The definition of a subacute or chronic occupational disease as distinguished from an acute industrial injury due to a single accident has been considerably broadened by legislatures. One therefore has to consider other occupational diseases of the eyes in addition to those previously recognized, namely, miners' nystagmus, glassblowers' cataract and other forms of radiation cataract and cataracts due to systemic poisons. The coverage of occupational diseases is extended not only in relation to the systemic poisons which may indirectly affect vision but in relation to certain substances which may affect the eyes directly, namely, dusts, fumes and oily particles. Those agents affecting the eyes directly may be described as giving rise to occupational keratitides and dystrophies. A clinical and medicolegal review of the subject is therefore presented.
A satisfactory etiologic classification of corneal diseases free from conflicting pathologic and anatomic-topographic criteria and morphologic terms, is as yet not available to