J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2009 Mar;50(3):462-466. 10.3341/jkos.2009.50.3.462.

A Case of High-Pressure Paint Gun Injury to the Eyeball and Ocular Adnexa

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hospital, Gwangju, Korea. kcyoon@jnu.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Ophthalmology, Chonbuk National University, Medical School, Jeonju, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To report a case of high-pressure paint gun injury to the eyeball and ocular adnexa.
CASE SUMMARY
A 50-year-old woman was admitted after accidental high-pressure paint injection to her right eye while working. She complained of pain and severe swelling of the eyelids covered with paint. Slit lamp biomicroscopy showed multiple conjunctival lacerations, deposition of paint material on her conjunctiva, corneal edema and crystalline lens dislocation. Orbital computed tomography revealed infiltration of paint material into the retrobulbar space and rupture of medial rectus muscle. The paint was removed from the conjunctiva, Tenon's tissue, and medial orbit after the medial rectus muscle was disinserted. On the second postoperative day, the wound was irrigated and pus was drained from the conjunctiva wound. Two months after the operation, the patient underwent cataract removal due to high intraocular pressure associated with lens dislocation. Six months after the operation, eyeball movement was improved except medial gaze, and the cornea was stable with moderate corneal haziness.
CONCLUSIONS
In high-pressure paint gun injury to the eye, detail evaluation, prompt removal of the foreign body and proper management of complications are necessary.

Keyword

Eyeball; High-pressure; Paint gun injury

MeSH Terms

Cataract
Conjunctiva
Cornea
Corneal Edema
Dislocations
Eye
Eyelids
Female
Foreign Bodies
Humans
Intraocular Pressure
Lacerations
Lens Subluxation
Lens, Crystalline
Middle Aged
Muscles
Orbit
Paint
Rupture
Suppuration

Figure

  • Figure 1. Preoperative findings. (A, B) Anterior photography showed corneal edema with Descemet membrane folding, lens dislocation, and green-colored paint materials on the right eyelid (A) and conjunctiva (B). (C) Computed tomography demonstrated multiple radiolucent materials in the right conjunctiva and retrobulbar space. (D) Ultrasound sonography revealed dislocated lens and multiple hyperechoic lesions in retrobulbar space of the right eye.

  • Figure 2. Intraoperative findings. (A) Green paint materials (arrow) were visible in the medial intraconal space and medial rectus muscle. (B) Computed tomography revealed a drainage tube (arrow) and remnant foreign bodies along medial rectus muscle.

  • Figure 3. Findings at 6 months after operation. (A) Gaze limitation improved, except medial gaze in the right eye. (B) The cornea was stable with moderate haziness.


Reference

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