Successful treatment of corneal wasp sting-induced panuveitis with vitrectomy

BACKGROUND: This study aims to present the management and clinical findings of a case of corneal wasp sting and to report the outcome of corneal change and panuveitis after vitrectomy. FINDINGS: Clinical findings, anterior segment photographs, corneal endothelial changes, and medical treatment of corneal wasp sting-induced panuveitis are presented. A 95-year-man was stung by a wasp on his left cornea. A severe conjunctival hyperemia, marked corneal edema, corneal epithelial defect, and uveitis developed. As soon as the patient visited our clinic, topical corticosteroid and antibiotics were given, but corneal endothelial damage and uveitis did not improve. Anterior chamber irrigation was performed with oxiglutatione solution to rinse out the wasp venom. Corneal edema and anterior uveitis improved but the endothelial cell density gradually decreased and the vitreous opacity deteriorated. Therefore, a 23-gauge vitrectomy was performed. Subsequently, the corneal edema and panuveitis improved. CONCLUSIONS: Vitrectomy may be an effective treatment for corneal endothelial damage and endophthalmitis induced by a corneal wasp sting.