Accidental henpeck as a cause of devastating eye injury.

Ocular Trauma by the peck of a hen can cause grievious eye injuries. We report a rare case of uniocular blindness in a 5 year old girl ,following a hen peck which caused a penetrating eye injury along with a total retinal detachment.

Introduction

We report a rare case of uniocular blindness in a 5-year-old female child following penetrating eye injury after a peck from a domestic hen. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only case reported, wherein a henpeck injury caused a penetrating eye injury in addition to a total retinal detachment.

Case Report

A 5-year-old female child presented to the emergency department with a history of an accidental henpeck injury to the right eye 4 h back. According to the history given, the child was playing in the backyard of her home, when a hen suddenly pecked at the child's right eye. There was a sudden gush of blood from the right eye, and the child complained of pain and that she was unable to see in the right eye.

On examination, there was a horizontal tear around 8 mm in length in the inferior cornea of the right eye with uveal tissue prolapse. There was a total hyphema. The child was uncooperative for visual acuity assessment due to pain. Left eye findings were normal.

The patient was taken for emergency surgery after obtaining informed consent. Clinical photograph is shown in Figure 1. The corneal tear was sutured with 10'0 monofilament nylon sutures after abscising necrotic uveal tissue. The hyphema was aspirated and the anterior chamber was reformed. A subconjunctival injection of moxifloxacin was given and the eye was bandaged.

Figure 1

Preoperative clinical photograph of the right eye showing the horizontal corneal tear in the inferior cornea (arrow) and hyphema following hen-peck injury (superior view)

Figure 2 shows the postoperative photograph. Tetanus prophylaxis was given in addition to parenteral antibiotics cefotaxime and metronidazole.

Figure 2

Postoperative photograph showing the sutured corneal tear (superior view)

Postoperatively, the patient was put on 2 hourly tobramycin (0.3%) and natamycin (5%) drops, prednisolone (1%) drops four times, and atropine (1%) drops three times a day. Figure 3 shows clinical photograph on day 10. Visual acuity in the right eye revealed that although perception of light was present, projection of rays was inaccurate and inconsistent. There was no fundal glow. B scan right eye revealed total retinal detachment [Figure 4]. The patient was referred to a higher center for retinal detachment surgery.

Figure 3

Postoperative clinical photograph on day 10 showing a well-apposed corneal tear (arrow). Anterior chamber was clear

Figure 4

B scan of the right eye. Arrow showing the retinal detachment

Discussion

Pecking eye injuries, though rare, are more common among children. Roosters, owls, storks, and cranes choose the eye as a target of attack in defending themselves from children.[1]

A case of subclinical endophthalmitis in a 12-month-old male child who suffered an open globe injury following rooster attack has been reported by Lekse Kovach et al.[2]

Ayanniyi et al.[3] describe a case of penetrating eye injury in a 6-year-old boy following a domestic henpeck injury.

Conclusion

Henpecking can cause devastating ocular injuries, especially in children. The beak and claws of the hen have the potential of causing ocular trauma. Parents should be aware of this danger and discourage children from playing in the vicinity of hens as well as trying to catch or play with hens. Prompt surgical repair and appropriate antibiotics are essential in cases of open globe injury following henpeck to optimize the visual outcome and prevent complications.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.