J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2010 Mar;51(3):435-439.

Corneal Endothelial Changes Induced by Corneal Bee Sting Injury

• Park JK
• Chang KC

Abstract

PURPOSE
Corneal bee sting is a relatively rare injury. The authors report the significant endothelial changes despite complete resolution of corneal injury after a corneal bee sting.
CASE SUMMARY
Two males, ages 55 and 30, presented to our clinic for unilateral decreased visual acuity and eyeball pain after bee sting injuries. At the first visit, localized corneal stromal edema and epithelial defect were detected. One week after medical treatments, both patients achieved restoration of vision and resolution of corneal injury. In one patient, specular microscopy of the traumatized eye at one and five months showed a significant decrease in endothelial densities as compared with the contralateral eye.
CONCLUSIONS
Corneal bee sting may cause significant endothelial changes despite complete resolution of clinical symptoms and injury. Specular microscopy should be considered in future intraocular surgeries.

Keyword

Bee sting; Cornea; Endothelial cell

MeSH Terms

Bees
Bites and Stings
Cornea
Edema
Endothelial Cells
Eye
Humans
Male
Microscopy
Vision, Ocular
Visual Acuity

Figure

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  Figure 1. Case 1. Slit-lamp biomicroscopic findings. (A&B) At the first visit, oval-shaped stromal edema and Descemet's foldings was detected in the inferotemporal paracentral cornea. (C) One week later, target-shaped stromal opacity remained with complete resolution of stromal edema.

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  Figure 2. Case 1. Specular microscopic findings (ECD-CoV-Hex) at the center of the cornea. (A) Normal left eye (2621-36-48), (B) Right eye at 1 month after the initial visit (1386-45-57), (C) Right eye at 5 months after the initial visit (1429–44–55). Specular microscopy of the right eye at one and five months showed a significant decrease in endothelial densities compared with the left eye. ECD=endothelial cell densities (/mm2); CoV=coefficient of variation; Hex=hexagonaility (%).

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  Figure 3. Case 2. Slit-lamp biomicroscopic findings. (A&B) At the first visit, localized round stromal edema and epithelial defect were detected at the nasal paracentral cornea. (C) One week later, only target-shaped stromal opacity remained with complete resolution of stromal edema.

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  Figure 4. Case 2. Specular microscopic findings (ECD-CoV-Hex) at the center of the cornea. (A) Normal left eye (2802-38-57), (B) Right eye at 1 month after the initial visit (2445-30-44), (C) Right eye at 5 months after the initial visit (2568–29–51). Unlike case 1, specular microscopy of the right eye at one and five months showed a slight decrease in endothelial densities compared with the left eye. ECD=endothelial cell densities (/mm2); CoV=coefficient of variation; Hex=hexagonaility (%).

Reference

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