Eye injuries from car battery explosions.

CASE I An 18-year-old engineer was measuring the charge of a car battery which had been on overnight trickle charge, when there was a spark and the battery exploded, injuring his left eye. On examination the corrected visual acuity was found to be 6/4 R and 6/24 L. There was an extensive acid burn of the left conjunctiva and cornea and a secondary uveitis. Intraocular pressure was 37 mm/Hg. The fundus was not clearly seen. He was treated with irrigation, topical steroids, and oral acetazolamide. Three days later the anterior segment had healed but the left visual acuity had deteriorated to 6/60. Examination revealed vitreous and retinal haemorrhage inferiorly and a full thickness macular hole (Fig. 1).