Bilateral orbital emphysema from compressed air injury.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a patient who developed bilateral subconjunctival and orbital emphysema after an automobile tire explosion.


METHODS
Case report.


RESULTS
A 60-year-old man sustained bilateral ocular injury after a tire explosion. Ophthalmic examination disclosed bilateral subconjunctival air, with no visible conjunctival laceration. Computed tomography showed orbital emphysema, with no evidence of orbital fracture. Follow-up examination 2 weeks after the injury disclosed resolution of the subconjunctival air. Best-corrected visual acuity in the right eye was decreased after the explosion but improved to the baseline level of 20/40 2 weeks after the injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Subconjunctival and orbital emphysema can occur from high-pressure air injury in the absence of an obvious entry site.
Li
T
T
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60612, USA.
Mafee
M F
MF
Edward
D P
DP
D000388:Air; D000399:Air Pressure; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004646:Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005107:Explosions; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009915:Orbit / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed