Instrument No.115 of 1995

Statement of Principles

concerning

ACUTE BLEPHARITIS

ICD CODE: 373.0

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
subsection 196B(2)

1.         Being of the view that there is sound medical-scientific evidence that indicates that acute blepharitis and death from acute blepharitis can be related to operational service rendered by veterans, peacekeeping service rendered by members of Peacekeeping forces and hazardous service rendered by members of the Forces, the Repatriation Medical Authority determines, under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986, that the factors that must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting acute blepharitis or death from acute blepharitis with the circumstances of that service, are:

(a)       contracting a bacterial infection of the eye immediately before the clinical onset of acute blepharitis; or

(b)       suffering from a viral infection of the eye immediately before the clinical onset of acute blepharitis; or

(c)       suffering from a fungal infection of the eye immediately before the clinical onset of acute blepharitis; or

(d)       suffering from an infestation of pubic lice in the region of the eye immediately before the clinical onset of acute blepharitis; or

(e)       suffering from an infestation of Demodex mites in the region of the eye immediately before the clinical onset of acute blepharitis; or

(f)        being a Prisoner of War immediately before the clinical onset of acute blepharitis; or

(g)       being exposed to allergens immediately before the clinical onset of acute blepharitis; or

(h)       being in an immuno-compromised state immediately before the clinical onset of acute blepharitis; or

(j)        being exposed to mustard gas immediately before the clinical onset of acute blepharitis; or

(k)       being exposed to irritant substances immediately before the clinical onset of acute blepharitis; or

(m)      being exposed to ionising radiation immediately before the clinical onset of acute blepharitis; or

(n)       having a neoplasm of the eyelid immediately before the clinical onset of acute blepharitis; or

(o)       suffering from conjunctivitis before the clinical worsening of acute blepharitis; or

(p)       being in an immuno-compromised state before the clinical worsening of acute blepharitis; or

(q)       being exposed to irritant substances before the clinical worsening of acute blepharitis; or

(r)        suffering from xerophthalmia  before the clinical worsening of acute blepharitis; or

(s)       suffering from uveitis, scleritis or episcleritis before the clinical worsening of acute blepharitis; or

(t)        suffering from a stye before the clinical worsening of acute blepharitis; or

(u)       inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for the acute blepharitis.

2.         Subject to clause 3 (below) at least one of the factors set out in paragraphs 1(a) to 1(u) must be related to any service rendered by a person.

3.         The factors set out in paragraphs 1(o) to 1(u) apply only where:

(a)       the person’s acute blepharitis was contracted before a period, or part of a period, of service to which the factor is related; and

(b)       the relationship suggested between the acute blepharitis and the particular service of a person is a relationship set out in paragraph 8(1)(e), 9(1)(e), 70(5)(d), or 70(5A)(d) of the Act.

4.         For the purposes of this Statement of Principles:

“acute blepharitis” means an inflammation of the eyelid margins lasting for less than 6 weeks, attracting ICD code 373.0;

“allergens” means an antigenic substance capable of producing immediate-type hypersensitivity;

“conjunctivitis” means inflammation of the conjunctiva, generally consisting of conjunctival hyperaemia associated with a discharge, attracting ICD code 370.3 to 370.4 or 372.0 to 372.3;

“Demodex mites” means a genus of mites which cause follicular mange;

“episcleritis” means inflammation of the tissues overlying the sclera, attracting ICD code 379.00;

“ICD code” means a number assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in the tenth edition of the International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision, effective date of 1 October 1993, copyrighted by the US Commission on Professional and Hospital Activities, and having the Library of Congress number 77-94472;

“immuno-compromised state” means a state where the immune response has been attenuated by administration of immunosuppressive drugs, or by irradiation, certain types of infection, malnutrition, or a malignant disease process;

“ionising radiation” means alpha, beta, gamma, or X-rays;

“irritant substances” means substances causing an irritant effect such as dyes, oils, industrial chemicals, or tobacco smoke;

“mustard gas” means dichlorodiethylsulphide, and is also known as sulphur mustard or yellow cross liquid;

“pubic lice” means Phthirus pubis lice which infest the pubic area and may be transmitted to the eye lashes;

“scleritis” means inflammation of the sclera, attracting ICD code 379.00;

“stye” means a localised, purulent inflammatory staphylococcal infection of one of more sebaceous glands of the eyelid, attracting ICD code 373.11;

“uveitis” means inflammation of part or all of the uvea, the middle tunic of the eye, attracting ICD code 364;

“xerophthalmia” means dryness of the conjuctiva and cornea, attracting ICD code 372.53.

Dated this                   Eighth                     day of              March        1995

The Common Seal of the                              )

Repatriation Medical Authority                   )

was affixed to this instrument                      )

in the presence of:                                        )

KEN DONALD

CHAIRMAN