Retained intraocular bee stings: A case series of four patients

Abstract

Ocular injuries due to bees and wasps are rare ophthalmic emergencies needing urgent treatment requiring removal of the inciting foreign body and/or immediate medical therapy. Traditional treatment dictates immediate surgical removal along with topical steroids. We present a series of four patients with bee sting injuries and retained intraocular stingers. All cases had retained stinger embedded in the cornea at presentation and received prompt medical treatment. The inflammatory effects of the toxin were successfully neutralized with medical therapy, and the inert exoskeletal chitinous stinger embedded in the cornea caused no direct harm in the long run.