Does pepper spray cause long-term damage to the eyes?

Retina pepper burn: While the cornea and conjunctiva heal quickly after a burn from pepper spray, any delay in irrigation can cause a visual field defect from a thermochemical reaction in the neurosensory retina, which is not clinically apparent on dilated examination. Only a Goldmann visual field is diagnostic. For incarcerated persons, the delay can be hours and the damage is permanent.