SEVERE PENETRATING EYE TRAUMA CAUSED BY FISH PICK ACCIDENTS

Purpose and Methods: The authors describe three cases in which commerc ial fishermen presented with penetrating ocular injuries from fish pic ks, which are hand-held, fish-sorting tools with relatively blunt tips designed to partially penetrate fish and expedite handling. Ocular in juries from this tool have not been reported previously. Results: Pres enting visual acuity was light perception in two cases and hand motion s in one case. Corneal laceration and vitreous hemorrhage were seen in all cases. Initial ultrasound showed no retinal detachment, and all p atients underwent primary repair of the corneal laceration. However, w ithin the first 2 months, follow-up ultrasound was suggestive of retin al detachment in all cases, and pars plana vitrectomy was performed. O ne patient who was found to have a retinal hole but no retinal detachm ent did well, with a visual acuity of 20/80. Two patients with retinal detachment did poorly, one with a dense epiretinal membrane and the o ther with a chronic irreparable retinal detachment and extensive subre tinal fibrosis. Conclusions: These injuries differ from fish hook inju ries because the instrument is much larger and is blunt in nature, imp arting significant energy into the eye. Consequently, patients with th ese injuries have a much less favorable outcome.