Corneal Transplantation in a Patient With Nonperforating Ocular Contusion Caused by a High-Pressure Washer: A Case Report

Abstract

This report details a rare case of a high-pressure washer injury that caused ocular contusion, vitreous hemorrhage, and irreversible corneal edema without perforation necessitating corneal transplantation. The medical chart of a patient with a high-pressure washer injury at Miyata Eye Hospital (Miyazaki, Japan) was retrospectively reviewed. A 57-year-old man presented to our hospital with a contusion in the left eye caused by a high-pressure washer 1 day prior to the visit. The visual acuity in the left eye was hand motion. Slit-lamp examination of the left eye revealed the presence of corneal epithelial defects, conjunctival lacerations, hyphema, and lacerated iris. Mild clouding of the lens was observed in the anterior chambers, suggestive of cataract. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography revealed the presence of blood in the anterior chamber and a thickened and edematous cornea. Ultrasound examination revealed the presence of vitreous hemorrhage. Therefore, vitreous surgery and traumatic cataract removal were performed under general anesthesia. Postoperatively, the corneal edema and marked opacity persisted, accompanied by glaucoma, and the visual acuity was measured at 0.01. Penetrating keratoplasty was performed 1 year and 2 months after the injury, and scleral fixation of the intraocular lens was performed under local anesthesia 2 years after the injury. The final visual acuity was 0.1 under rigid gas-permeable contact lens usage 3.5 years after sustaining the injury, and the patient required anti-glaucoma drugs. Our patient presented with ocular trauma caused by a high-pressure washer. Corneal transplantation was required although no ocular lacerations were detected. Sufficient instructions must be provided on the usage of heavy machinery to develop a safe working environment.