Isolated ocular injury due to spitting cobra’s venom
Azimuddin Azim SIRAJ 1 and Nayan JOSHI 2
1 Department of Ophthalmology, Suri Seri Begawan Hospital, Kuala Belait, 2 Department of Ophthalmology, RIPAS Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
ABSTRACT
Some species of venomous snakes spit venom in human eyes as a defence mechanism when threatened. If not detected and treated appropriately early, this can result in severe toxic ocular injury leading to potential blindness (snake venom ophthalmia). Not much is known of the clinical course and treatment guidelines due to the rarity of such occurrences. We present a case of isolated severe toxic ocular injury in one eye who reported to us with very poor vision following venom spit, which was promptly treated leading to a successful visual recovery. This is the first documented case of snake venom ophthalmia from Kuala Belait, Brunei Darussalam.
Keywords: Spitting cobras, snake venoms, corneal opacity, blindness
Correspondence author: Azimuddin Azim SIRAJ, Department of Ophthalmology, Suri Seri Begawan Hospital, Kuala Belait, Brunei Darussalam, KA - 1131.
Tel: +673 714551, Fax: +673 3335100
E mail: azim_siraj@yahoo.com
Brunei Int Med J. 2012; 8 (3): 145-148