OCULAR INJURIES FROM EXPLODING BOTTLES OF CARBONATED DRINKS IN ASABA

Aim: To highlight the presentations and outcomes of eye injuries from explosion of bottles containing carbonated drinks at FMC, Asaba, over a two-year period.

Method: A retrospective study of a consecutive series of four patients involving five eyes seen at the eye clinic between 2020 and 2022, diagnosed with bottle cork injury. Information obtained included age, sex, occupation, laterality, circumstances surrounding the injury, type of agent, visual acuity, other examination findings at presentation and follow-up, and treatment.

Results: Three out of the five injured eyes (60%) were in females aged 11–35 years. The males affected were aged 3 and 8 years and were injured while playing. The mean age of participants was 17 years. All the females were injured while packing chilled carbonated drinks for sale. The right eye was affected in 3 (60%) of the 5 affected eyes. Symptoms included pain, redness, and sudden deterioration of vision. Three patients had a presenting visual acuity of hand motion, while the other had light perception. Visual acuity remained hand motion at 1 week and 3 months, except in the boy who had 6/60 at 1 week and improved to 6/12 at 1 month. Patients had varying degrees of cataracts; two had retinal detachment, lens subluxation and vitreous haemorrhage occurred in two eyes, while one eye was progressing to phthisis bulbi.

Conclusion: Ocular injuries from explosion of carbonated drink-containing glass bottles, whether from flying glass splinters or bottle caps, result in catastrophic ocular complications. Proactive preventive measures, especially in the workplace, are of utmost importance.