Capsules of liquid washing detergent have been around for nearly ten years.  They are designed to be convenient and less messy than powders or liquids.  Like all cleaning detergents however, they need to be kept well out of the reach of young children.

A letter published to the British Medical Journal in March, shows that a group of opthalmologists working at the Western Eye Hospital in London treated chemical burns to toddlers' eyes, 40% because of burst liquid washing capsules.

If a child does get detergent or any other corrosive substance in its eyes, the carer should;

1. Wash their eyes out under large amounts of cold, running water for at least 10 minutes.
2. While washing, gently hold the eyelids open to help flush out as much of the detergent as possible.
3. Seek medical advice promptly.

Katrina Phillips, Child Accident Prevention Trust's Chief Executive said, "Generally it's poisoning that's front of mind when parents think of risks from cleaning products - which is why many people keep these capsules in open boxes or tubs.  But chemical burns to the eyes are traumatic for both children and their parents.  This new research reinforces the imperative of keeping ALL household cleaning products well out of the reach of children - either on a high shelf, or in a cupboard fitted with a safety catch."