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.