Patricia Siy, BS; Kevin Schneider, MD; Jennifer Larson, MD
WMJ. 2025;124(5):482-485.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Choroidal rupture is a vision-threatening complication of blunt ocular trauma but is rarely reported in association with fishing-related injuries. We describe a case of choroidal rupture following ocular trauma from a fishing lure.
Case presentation: A 9-year-old boy presented with a penetrating fishhook right eye injury from a treble hook lure. Ophthalmic examination and imaging confirmed choroidal rupture. Initial visual acuity was 20/200 in the right eye and improved to 20/60 at 2 months postinjury. At 6 months, visual acuity declined to hand motions, and optical coherence tomography showed choroidal neovascularization (CNV). The patient underwent anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection under general anesthesia. At most recent follow-up visual acuity was 20/50.
Discussion: Fishing injuries typically cause vision loss through penetrating or perforating ocular trauma. Although blunt trauma is a recognized cause of choroidal rupture and vision loss, this mechanism from a fishing lure is rarely described. Close monitoring for secondary CNV is essential, and anti-VEGF therapy can effectively reduce subretinal and intraretinal fluid, resolve hemorrhage, and treat choroidal neovascularization.
Conclusions: This case highlights the potential for blunt ocular trauma from fishing lures to cause choroidal rupture and vision loss. Preventive strategies, including eye protection and adult supervision, are critical to reduce the risk of similar injuries.
Author affiliations: University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin (Siy); Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, UW School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin (Schneider, Larson).
Corresponding author: Patricia Siy, email psiy@wisc.edu; ORCID ID 0009-0007-7693-0246
Financial disclosures: None declared.
Funding/support: This work was supported in part by an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc to the UW School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.
Acknowledgement: Written consent to publish the case was obtained from the patient’s parent. This report does not contain any personal information that could identify the patient.
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