Large subconjunctival emphysema causing diplopia and lagophthalmos.

PURPOSE: To describe a patient who developed diplopia, lagophthalmos and exposure keratopathy due to a large subconjunctival emphysema.

METHODS

A 24-year-old man sustained an injury in his left eye from a compressed air hose. The patient complained of pain and diplopia. He underwent slit-lamp examination, funduscopy and computed tomography.

RESULTS

Ophthalmic examination revealed a decrease in vision in the left eye to 0.5, a conjunctival laceration adjacent to the medial limbus, subconjunctival hemorrhage, a large subconjunctival emphysema, lagophthalmos, hypertropia and superficial punctate keratopathy. The posterior pole was intact as were the orbital bones. Two weeks after the injury the conjunctival emphysema, diplopia, lagophthalmos and superficial keratopathy resolved, and visual acuity improved to 1.

CONCLUSIONS

Large subconjunctival emphysema can result in diplopia, lagophthalmos and exposure keratopathy.