Corneal injury from explosion of microwaved eggs

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology 1998-03, Vol.125 (3), p.390-392
• Main Authors: Yoo, Reuben T., Rivera, Pedro M., Campbell, Joseph P., Butrus, Salim I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Blast Injuries - etiology; Blast Injuries - pathology; Blast Injuries - therapy; Child; Conjunctiva - transplantation; Cooking; Cornea - drug effects; Cornea - pathology; Cornea - surgery; Corneal Injuries; Eggs; Epithelial Cells - transplantation; Explosions; Eye Burns - etiology; Eye Burns - pathology; Eye Burns - therapy; Female; Humans; Injuries of the orbit. Foreign bodies of the eye. Diseases due to physical agents; Keratitis - etiology; Keratitis - therapy; Keratoplasty, Penetrating; Medical sciences; Microwaves; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Visual Acuity; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - etiology; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - pathology; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - therapy
• ISSN: 0002-9394; 1879-1891
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9394(99)80153-6

To report two patients with ocular burns from explosion of microwaved eggs that caused direct vision-threatening corneal damage. The initial examination and treatment of both patients are described. Both patients were initially examined with severe decrease in the visual acuity of both eyes. The first patient required limbal conjunctival transplantation and a subsequent penetrating keratoplasty in the right eye and prolonged treatment of superficial keratitis in the left eye. The second patient sustained bilateral corneal epithelial defects and unilateral intrastromal hemorrhage. Exploding microwaved eggs can cause notable thermal injury to the eyes. The public should be educated about the dangers of cooking eggs in the microwave oven.