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Article
August 1994

Retinal Commotio and Tears From a Water Balloon Injury

Author Affiliations

Pittsburgh, Pa

Arch Ophthalmol. 1994;112(8):1021. doi:10.1001/archopht.1994.01090200023008
Abstract

Traumatic hyphema has been reported in two cases of young children who had air-filled balloons explode close to their faces.1 To our knowledge, posterior-segment complications have not been reported in balloon-related injuries. We report herein a case of a patient who sustained several retinal tears as a result of a water balloon injury.

Report of a Case.  An 11-year-old boy with no history of ocular trauma was struck in both eyes with a water balloon, which burst on impact. In a local emergency department, roentgenograms of the face and skull showed no abnormalities. The patient was referred to an ophthalmologist the following morning; there he complained of soreness in his right eye and blurry vision in his left eye. His visual acuity without correction was 20/25 – 2 OD and 20/30 OS pinholing to 20/25–2. Extraocular motility was normal in both eyes. Amsler grid test results were normal

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