Ruptured Globe due to a Bird Attack

Abstract

Introduction: Bird attacks are in general an uncommon event. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in Bahrain. There have been very few cases reported worldwide. Mainly, birds attack humans as retaliation to threats surrounding their environment. At certain occasions, bird attack frequency increases especially during mating season or in the presence of a threat toward their young. Methods: A 31-year-old male presented with a history of left-eye trauma, loss of vision, pain and tearing for 2 hours. A left corneal penetrating laceration and traumatic cataract were diagnosed. The corneal laceration was closed surgically, the lens was aspirated and anterior vitrectomy performed. Results: After 4 months of follow-up, penetrating keratoplasty and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation were performed elsewhere. The patient's vision improved from hand motion in his left eye to 20/200 without correction. Conclusion: Corneal perforation secondary to a bird injury can be treated successfully with surgical closure and broad intravenous antibiotic coverage. This rare type of ocular trauma does not require any specific additional measures.

Excellent Healing after Severe Lid Injury by a Bird

“…Literature review shows that there are few cases of bird trauma causing penetrating ocular injuries affecting the vision with disastrous complications involving anterior and posterior segment. 2 On comprehensive reviews of the pertinent literature in the past involving human eye related injuries by birds, it has been reported by Duke-Elder et al and Kühlapud Collin that most human eye bird injuries are caused by owls, chicken and roosters. They found that attacks occur more commonly in the spring season, in their breeding time.…”

<b><i>Escherichia coli</i></b> Panophthalmitis after Pecking by a Great Egret (<b><i>Ardea alba</i></b>)

“…Herein, we report the first, to the best of our knowledge, case of ocular injury caused by A. alba , which resulted in corneal perforation and panophthalmitis requiring eye evisceration. Ocular injury caused by birds is an uncommon clinical situation but sometimes leads to severe impairment of visual function [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. As birds are often observed flying at a distance from the ground, one may tend to consider that they would not cause injuries; however, birds approach the ground in search of nourishment and may engage in aggressive attacks under certain conditions.…”

“…Importantly, hard beak pecking has the potential to cause severe visual function impairment [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Previous reports have shown that various types of birds, such as the sparrow [ 1 ], ostrich [ 2 ], rooster [ 7 ], common myna [ 3 ], crane [ 4 ], domestic hen [ 5 ], bittern [ 6 ], and eagle [ 8 ], can cause human ocular injuries, such as corneal infiltration, defects, cataract, retinal detachment, and endophthalmitis. Pecking damage is dependent on the injured site, bird size, or their attacking habit, as well as the condition of the wounds, and the clinical outcome may sometimes be poor [ 5 ].…”

A Peck of Affection or a Peck of Aggression: Case Report of an Eye Injury Due to the Black-Naped Oriole

“…The incidence of such injuries still remains unknown. Previous literature has showed examples of eye injuries caused by wild birds like the common myna [4], sparrows [5], owls [6,7], and even an ostrich [8]. Many of these injuries resulted in severe ocular trauma requiring surgery.…”