Effect of Irradiation, Immunity and Other Factors on Vaccinial Infection

THE PREVENTION of permanent impairment of vision is the goal in the treatment of any infection of the eye. Accidental ocular infection with vaccinia occurs usually as a complication of prophylactic immunization against smallpox. The eye may be inoculated by a transference of virus from the site of vaccination or from another's lesion or dressing. Rarely does infection occur as a laboratory accident in the course of the preparation or experimental use of the virus. The danger of ocular infection lies in involvement of the cornea, with subsequent development of an opaque scar. Although millions of vaccinations are done yearly, the total number of cases of ocular infection with vaccinia reported to date only slightly exceeds 200. 1 Fortunately, the patient is usually partially immune at the time of inoculation of the eye. Infection of the lid and conjunctiva is relatively commoner than that of the cornea, and recovery is