Uncommon severe blunt ocular injury associated with large retinal dialysis caused by a fishing sinker

Abstract

Introduction Severe ocular injuries caused by fishing equipment are relatively rare. The visual prognosis for fishing-related injuries depends on the involved ocular structures, the presence of complications, and surgical techniques applied.

Case outline A 40-year-old man reported a sudden severe sharp pain and a loss of vision in his left eye while he was pulling the fishing rod during recreational fishing. At admission, his best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the left eye was 1/60. Clinical examination revealed a laceration in the temporal quadrant of the bulbar conjunctiva 0.2–0.3 mm in size and a dark tumefaction under the conjunctiva in the same region. It was identified during primary surgical exploration as a fishing sinker 1 cm in size lodged under the lateral rectus muscle. The bulbar wall was intact and the fishing sinker was safely removed. Phacoemulsification with the implantation of an artificial foldable intraocular lens and 23G pars plana vitrectomy were performed. During vitrectomy, subretinal hemorrhage in the macular region and large retinal dialysis in the temporal segment were revealed. Vitrectomy was finished with silicone oil tamponade. One week later, the patient’s BCVA of the left eye was 2/60. Eight months after surgery, spontaneous resorption of subretinal hemorrhage in the macular region and the attached retina was observed. The patient’s BCVA was 3/60 due to the destruction of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium and the formation of epiretinal membrane.

Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a severe blunt ocular injury associated with large retinal dialysis caused by a fishing sinker.

Keywords: ocular trauma; fishing sinker; subretinal hemorrhage; retinal dialysis; vitrectomy