The edition · Ophthalmology
Carbide gun eye injuries: severe burns in teenage boys, with early vision gains after amniotic membrane
An Indian outbreak series of 37 patients found two-thirds had severe ocular burns. A small trial favours silicone oil in refractory endophthalmitis, and a tribal survey in Gujarat finds most known diabetics uncontrolled.
The edition in brief
Today's ophthalmology edition ends on a festival-season injury. During a 10-day outbreak in October 2025, one Indian tertiary centre treated 37 patients with carbide gun eye injuries: all were male, median age 15, injured at home, usually while looking into the device after it failed to fire. Two-thirds had severe burns (Dua grade IV–VI) with deep stromal calcium deposits; 81% had early amniotic membrane transplantation, and mean vision improved from logMAR 2.09 to 0.80 within a week, though limbal stem cell deficiency was appearing in severe burns by four weeks. An Egyptian randomised trial of 40 eyes with post-cataract endophthalmitis unresponsive to intravitreal antibiotics found vitrectomy with silicone oil cut recurrence from 40% to 10% compared with vitrectomy alone, though the primary visual outcome did not differ significantly. A meta-analysis of 16 studies found taller and larger pigment epithelial detachments were the most consistent features associated with RPE tears in neovascular AMD, with very low certainty. A rapid assessment survey of 7,835 adults aged 50 and over in tribal Tapi district found diabetes in 4.9%, any retinopathy in 16.3% of diabetics, and raised random glucose in 55% of those already diagnosed. The pearl covers first aid for chemical eye injury.
Refractory post-cataract endophthalmitis: silicone oil cut recurrence in a small trial
Consider silicone oil at vitrectomy for refractory post-cataract endophthalmitis to reduce recurrence, recognising the visual benefit was not proven.
Taller, larger pigment epithelial detachments were linked to RPE tears in neovascular AMD
Record PED size before anti-VEGF in neovascular AMD and counsel patients with tall or large PEDs about tear risk.
Tribal Tapi survey: most known diabetics uncontrolled, one in six with retinopathy
Combine glucose testing and dilated retinal examination in rural and tribal eye camps, and refer uncontrolled diabetes onward.
Chemical eye injury: irrigate first, assess second
Irrigate a chemical eye injury immediately and thoroughly, then remove particles and grade limbal involvement.
Carbide gun injuries: severe ocular burns in boys, with limbal damage emerging by four weeks
Prepare for carbide gun eye burns this festival season: irrigate and clear particles first, consider early amniotic membrane for severe burns, and follow for limbal failure.
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