Occupational eye hazard – a case of perforating industrial nail injury to the eye

  • Elin Lee Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore
  • Wagle Ajeet Madhav 1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore; Ministry of Health Holdings, Singapore; Faculty of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Singapore International Eye Cataract Retina Centre, Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, Singapore
Keywords: Penetrating eye injury, Occupational injury

Abstract

Purpose: To report the management and outcome of an unusual case of occupational perforating ocular industrial nail injury involving the posterior pole. 
Methods: Observational case report. A 48-year-old Chinese male construction worker presented with perforating industrial nail injury.
Results: The patient underwent primary globe repair and foreign body removal followed by staged pars plana vitrectomy with endophotocoagulation and cyclopropane gas tamponade for repair of the vitreous incarceration at the posterior exit wound, a subsequent laser retinopexy with silicone oil tamponade for an inferior retinal detachment extending from the perforation site and finally silicone oil removal with a scleral fixated intraocular lens implant. His best-corrected visual acuity improved to 20/100 six months after the initial injury. 
Conclusion: Perforating ocular injuries involving the posterior pole often present with severe visual impairment and significant management challenges. We report a case of perforating ocular nail injury, which was managed successfully with staged surgical procedures.

Author Biography

Elin Lee, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore

Medical Officer

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore

Published
2016-01-20
How to Cite
Lee, E., & Madhav, W. (2016). Occupational eye hazard – a case of perforating industrial nail injury to the eye. Asian Journal of Ophthalmology, 15(1), 43-46. https://doi.org/10.35119/asjoo.v15i1.164
Section
Case Reports/Case Series