The ocular complications of an envenomous snakebite

Abstract

AbstractAn envenomous snakebite is an important public health problem that can lead to irreversible loss of vision. Snake venom neurotoxins mainly act on the peripheral nervous system at the neuromuscular junction, and result in the implication of the cranial nerves. Consequently, mild neurological symptoms that relate to cephalic muscle paralysis, including exotropia, ptosis, diplopia and ophthalmoplegia, can occur. This happens because the extraocular muscles are especially susceptible to neurological muscular blockage. Other neurological complications of snake venom include accommodation paralysis, optic neuritis, globe necrosis, keratomalacia, uveitis, and loss of vision due to cortical infarction. Haemostatic complications may include subconjuctival haemorrhage, hyphema, and vitreous and retinal haemorrhages. Another rare complication of a snakebite is ocular injury. Snakebite injuries are often accompanied by facial swelling, periorbital ecchymosis, massive subconjuctival haemorrhage, severe corneal...