Effects of noxious compounds in exhaled breath air as a potential mechanism causing "Red eye" in renal failure patients

Abstract

Renal failure can lead to the retention of nitrogenous waste products which affects almost all organ systems in human body and causes complex clinical manifestations. Eye can be one of these affected organs. "Red eye" is not an uncommon complication of renal failure. Over the past several decades numerous theories have attempted to describe the possible pathogenic pathways leading to the diverse ocular complications of renal failure. Some of the retained waste products in renal failure such as, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide and methylamines can be elaborated and exhaled via breath air. We hypothesize that the effects of these exhaled noxious compounds on the ocular surface over an extended period of time can be considered as another potential mechanism contributing to ocular manifestations, particularly the "red eye", in renal failure.