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Case Reports
. 2024 Jun 10;24(1):244.
doi: 10.1186/s12886-024-03512-8.

Neurotrophic keratitis caused by lightning injury: a case report

Sidou Yi  1 , Guoping Wang  2 , Xuan Meng  2 , Xuejing Lu  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Neurotrophic keratitis caused by lightning injury: a case report

Sidou Yi et al. BMC Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to report a case of neurotrophic keratitis caused by lightning.

Case presentation: A 38-year-old man was hit by lightning and suffered eye injury. He eventually developed neurotrophic keratitis.

Results: The patient's injury history and burn site were analyzed, and it was judged that lightning directly damaged his cornea, eventually resulting in neurotrophic keratitis. Fortunately, the patient's vision improved after treatment.

Conclusion: Lightning can cause eye damage, and the clinical manifestations are diverse. Lightning currents cause corneal nerve loss, resulting in neurotrophic keratitis. To maintain corneal integrity and prevent disease progression, early assessment and appropriate treatment are necessary.

Keywords: Cornea; Eye injury; Lightning injury; Neurotrophic keratitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A: the entrance of lightning strike was found at the lower eyelid of right eye. B: the main exit was found at the extensor side of the index finger of the right hand. C and D: the rest of the exits were located at the elbow, knee joints and toes
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A (right eye): the central stroma of the cornea was edematous, and a large number of dotlike golden foreign bodies was observed in the shallow stroma. B (left eye): the central stroma of the cornea was cloudy. C: corneal sensation disappeared, and a small ulcerated lesion was found at the center of the right eye’s cornea measuring about 1 * 2.5 mm. D: fluorescent of the right eye’s cornea staining was positive. E (right eye): corneal nebula left in the center of the cornea. F (left eye): the cornea was largely transparent
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
A (right eye): corneal confocal microscopy revealed that nerve fibers were absent. B (left eye): the density of subbasal nerve fibers was significantly reduced, and some nerves were bead-like
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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