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If you read the label of boric acid, it says it is an eye irritant. Rubbing alcohol, when applied to the eyes in a high enough dosage, can cause blindness. I've heard of boric acid being used as a disinfectant on a cut on your skin, but please consult your physician. Boric acid is toxic.

Anthony H
- Atlanta, GA, USA

I know from personal history that Boric Acid is totally safe, and and is in fact medicinally beneficial for the eyes, WHEN USED IN THE CORRECT DOSAGE, which is 1.9%, or less, of total volume.

The greatest number of postings on the internet are aimed at helping consumers handle Boric Acid in its full-strength state; when properly diluted, it is not an eye-irritant. In the same way, saline solution (salt) is beneficial to eyes; in this case the salt is used in a diluted form; but full-strength salt, if put into the eye, would be very irritating.

Marynell K
- Arcadia, CA, USA

I see some eyewash solution for sale on the net which say they are 2.5% boric acid, so we're in the same ballpark, Marynell. And Paracelsus long ago told us that the difference between medicine and poison was the dosage.

But I think Dawn should be using commercial eyewashes rather than trying to make her own from boric acid for several reasons: To get the concentration right; to be sure there aren't undissolved granules of boric acid that could scratch the cornea; to be sure it's USP grade instead of some impure material made for industrial use; to be sure the water is properly preserved and bacteria won't grow in the eyewash . . . and probably a few other reasons if we thought about it a while.

I suggest that people look up "Boric Acid Eye Wash [link is to product info at Amazon]" for their shopping, rather than "boric acid".

Ted Mooney, P.E. 
finishing.com
Brick, NJ

+++++

I had similar questions about boric acid, especially when I purchased it and saw the POISON label. However, I checked with my pharmacist who swears by it as as a "cure" for vaginal yeast infections. It also used to treat eye infections when diluted. You will find it in almost all eye washes, if you check the labels of those products.

I recall my mother using it when I was young for "medicinal purposes" but we also used to get rid of roaches and ants. Go figure. Strange but true.

I purchased it in powder form to use in treating ear infections in my English 'Springer Spaniel. The formula can be found at many pet sites that have forums for medical treatment of different problems. It is as follows:

Blue Power Ear Wash Recipe
INGREDIENTS:

16 Oz. Isopropyl Alcohol [link is to product info at Amazon]
(or Witch Hazel [link is to product info at Amazon])

4 Tablespoons Boric Acid Powder [link is to product info at Amazon]

16 Drops Gentian Violet [link is to product info at Amazon] Solution 1%

Mix together in alcohol bottle and shake well.

Please shake this solution every time you use it to mix the Boric Acid Powder. Either a baby ear syringe or a plastic squirt bottle work well for putting the solution in the ear.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE:

Evaluate condition of ears before treating and if the are inflamed and sore do not attempt to pull hair or clean out ear at all. Just flush and then wait until inflammation is gone, which will be about two days. Warm the solution and shake the bottle each time before using. The dogs will accept the treatment much better if you warm it up for them.

Flood the ear with solution (gently squirt bottle).

Massage gently, wipe with 100% cotton pad.

On first treatment: flood the ear twice, wipe with a pad, and leave alone without massage.

The dog will shake out the excess, which can be wiped with a tissue. (Note: the Gentian Violet does stain fabrics so you're best to do this outdoors.)

Treat 2x per day for the first week to two weeks, depending upon severity of ears.

After the 2nd or 3rd day you can clean out the ear with a tissue or cotton pad.

Treat 1x per day for the next 1-2 weeks.
Treat 1x per month (or even less frequently, depending on the dog).

My pharmacist also said that the poison label resulted from EPA way out of control, probably from California. LOL!

Wayne M
- Safety Harbor, FL

Thanks, Wayne. But your posting does show how easily internet knowledge can become dangerous. You've told us of a boric acid and rubbing alcohol recipe as eardrops for pets, but Dawn had heard of the recipe, didn't quite recall, and thought rubbing alcohol was appropriate for children's eyes :-(

Ted Mooney, P.E. 
finishing.com
Brick, NJ

March 2, 2006

Enough! Boric acid wash for the eye is 1/4 Tsp to 2 cups water. Boil water and add powder until dissolved. Store in an airtight and sterile container. Use an eye cup to rinse eye. Blink eye into solution so it can get under the lid.
Tried and true since Since 1952 in my family.

Jill M
- Miami, Florida