Penetrating Ocular Trauma Caused by Steel Wire from a Rotating Wire Brush: A Case Report with Review of Literature

Abstract

A 19-year-old young man came to emergency department with a complaint of injury in the left eye with a wire, while cleaning the car engine parts in the workshop with motorized rotating wire brush. He was referred immediately to the eye clinic. On examination of the left eye, a thin steel wire was seen penetrating at the nasal limbus which was projecting forwards. The wire was removed (33 mm in length) under aseptic precautions using topical anaesthesia. Postoperatively, he was treated with ciprofloxacin eye drops. The patient had no ocular morbidity; the vision was normal, and he was asymptomatic in the left eye. Eye injuries from rotating wire brushes are caused by detached fragments. These eyes should be examined in detail for the involvement of different structures of the eye; and should be treated adequately in-time to prevent visual loss/ blindness. Wearing of safety glasses/ full face shield while working is recommended to prevent such injuries.