Evaluation Of The Provision Of Single Use Citric Acid Sachets To ...

14The next most common eye problem associated with injecting reported by the participantsin this study was severe headaches, with 39 (11%) of the IDUs having suffered fromthem. Once again, processed lemon juic was most frequently reported to be the acidifierassociated with this problem, cited by 24 of the 39 IDUs (62%). Vinegar was cited by 11participants (33%). One IDU reported that fresh lemon juice had led to their havingsevere headaches, while one IDU could not remember what acidifier they had used whenthey had suffered a headache.Eighteen participants (5%) reported experiencing sore eyes following injection. Again, themain cause seems to be processed lemon juice, with 12 participants (67%) citing it as theacidifier used on the occasions they had had sore eyes. Once more, the other acidifiersasso cia te d with this problem we re fresh lemon juice and vinega r. A fe w o the r, moreserious eye problems were reported by the participants. These included temporaryblindness, ca ta ra cts , and a range o f “o the r” problems such as the to ta l lo ss o f a n e ye ,tunnel vision and seeing white spots. A full breakdown of the problems experienced anda cidifie rs used a re sho wn in Table 3.7.Table 3.7. Eye problems experienced by participantsAcidifier used whenexperienc ed eyeproblemSingle Use Citric AcidSachetsCitric Acid (packet, notfrom the exchange)BlurredvisionSevereheadachesN (%) Participants (N=340)Eye problem*SoreeyesBlindness(temporary)CataractsOther4 (1) - - - - 1 (