Cataract and Retinal Detachment Following Electric Shock Injury in a 28-year-old Nigerian Male: A case report

Abstract

Aim: To report a case of cataract and retinal detachment following an electrical injury in an adult Nigerian male. C a se report: A 28-year-old man presented with a history of progressive and painless loss of vision in the right eye, three years after an electric shock injury. There was no history of mechanical trauma. Examination and investigations revealed a mature cataract and retinal detachment in the right eye. He subsequently had an uneventful cataract surgery with expected poor prognosis, secondary to the retinal detachment. Conclusion: This case highlights two ocular complications (one common and one uncommon) following an electrical injury. A high index of suspicion and awareness of the likelihood of these complications may increase diagnostic accuracy, especially in cases of presenile cataracts with no apparent cause. Keywords: electrical injury, presenile cataract, retinal detachment Nigerian Journal of Ophthalmology Vol. 16 (1) 2008: pp. 23-25