A rare case of anterior segment injury by bamboo filaments

Abstract

Background: To report an unusual case of bamboo filaments sticking into the cornea, conjunctiva, and even penetrating the cornea into the anterior chamber. Case presentation: A 53-year-old man injured his left eye accidentally with rotted bamboo filaments when cutting wood. After 2 weeks, he went to our hospital. We found there were many bamboo filaments embedded, not only in the subepithelial region of the cornea but also in the conjunctiva and anterior chamber. Superficial and subconjunctival foreign bodies were removed, and the deep corneal stroma and anterior chamber bamboo foreign bodies were observed statically. The patient was re-examined 1 week and 1 month after discharge and the results showed no significant inflammatory reaction to the residual foreign body. A long-term follow-up of this patient is still in process with further studies to be done. Conclusion: Our current short-term follow-up observations suggest that, in contrast to the conjunctival reaction, bamboo filaments may pierce and lodge in the anterior chamber and cornea without significant inflammation.