title: Traumatic retinal detachment from a water balloon slingshot.
abstract: The authors describe a case of traumatic retinal dialysis with retinal detachment from a water balloon slingshot during a "water balloon war." A 31-year-old woman presented with decreased visual acuity in her right eye 2 days after being hit by a water balloon. The visual acuity in the right eye was counting fingers and fundus examination showed subtotal retinal detachment secondary to a superonasal dialysis. The patient underwent a scleral buckling procedure with external drainage, and at 18 months visual acuity was stable at 20/50 with attached retina. Water balloon eye injuries can result in permanent visual loss. More public awareness needs to be created regarding the potential harmful effects of this commonly used "toy."
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Chaudhry
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Falcone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alexandrakis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grannum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010988:Play and Playthings / Q000293:injuries*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012591:Scleral Buckling; D014792:Visual Acuity