Scleral and corneal laceration with iris prolapse caused by an eagle claw

To describe the visual rehabilitation after surgical treatment of an ocular injury sustained during an attack by a bird of prey.

A 51-year-old woman who was attacked by an eagle in a cage had a laceration of cornea and sclera at 9 o' clock, an iris prolapse that was jammed into the scleral wound, and a flat anterior chamber with hyphema. The uncorrected visual acuity was hand movements. Surgical treatment was performed immediately and included iris repositioning and suturing, scleral and conjunctival suturing, and transscleral cryotherapy to the retina.

Eight months later, the best corrected visual acuity was 20/20. The anterior segment showed a posterior synechia in the area of the iris repair and an almost round pupil; the crystalline lens showed only a localized opacification.

A bird of prey, even though caged, can injure an eye in humans. With immediate surgical treatment, good visual rehabilitation was achieved in this case. It should be reiterated that spectacles offer no protection against ocular trauma in these cases.