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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
A Simplified Technique for In situ Excision of Cornea and Evisceration of Retinal Tissue from Human Ocular Globe
Published on: June 12, 2012
Burn during a routine pterygium excision operation
M Naftali1, H Jabaly-Habib, A Mukari
1Department of Ophthalmology, Pade Hospital, Poria, Israel. naftalim@012.net.il
Purpose:
To report a patient who sustained a spark fire burn during a routine pterygium operation.
Methods:
A 40-year-old woman was referred for pterygium excision in her left eye. During the operation a low temperature cautery caused a spark fire that resulted in left eye corneal burn, upper and lower eyelid burns, and melting of eyelashes and eyebrows bilaterally.
Results:
Topical antibiotics and vitamin C followed by topical corticosteroids were given. After 1 week the corneal epithelium healed but a paracentral corneal opacity developed. Two months later on last follow-up visit, a mild diffuse corneal opacity was still seen. The combination of three elements found in most routine (ophthalmologic) surgical fields-an enriched oxygen environment with the high temperature transmitted by the electrocautery in the vicinity of hair-might explain the event.
Conclusions:
Surgeons should try to separate these three elements or eliminate any of them, in order to minimize or prevent such events.
