Massage guns have become trendy recently and are apparently very efficient in helping muscle pain but what if a patient decided to use them on his eyes? Sounds improbable? Read this case to find out!
A 35-year-old male presented to the ER with a chief complaint of blurry vision in both eyes for one month. Best-corrected visual acuity was 1/200 OD and 20/100 OS, IOP was 6/6, pupils were round and reactive and there was a visual field defect OD>OS.
During case history, the patient mentioned he was using a “massage gun” on his eyes daily “to cure myopia” for the last 6 months.
Anterior segment evaluation was significant for bilateral traumatic cataracts whereas fundus examination showed a vitreous hemorrhage OD and a Macula-off retinal detachment (see B-scan) while OS showed an attached macula with a nasal retinal detachment.
The patient initially underwent cataract extraction and RD repair OD only. Unfortunately at follow-up, the patient reported experiencing a darkening of vision after falling and hitting his head. His retina re-detached and he required multiple surgical repairs which eventually led to the development of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy, a fibrotic membrane overlying the retina.
A couple of months later, the patient underwent cataract extraction and RD repair OS as well. Extensive PVR was noted which was peeled during surgery and eventually recurred post-op posteriorly which reduces the visual acuity.
At his last known follow-up, visual acuities were 20/250 OD and 20/50 OS with flat retina OU.
Massage guns are high-impact devices made to be used on muscles only and, although this patient was creative about trying to “cure his myopia” with it, it is not recommended to use them above the neck level or on the face.
Photos and case were shared by my amazing colleague and coresident, Dr. Sydney Madrigal.
