INTRODUCTION:
Mobile blast injuries are increasing in recent times. Reports 
are coming from many places of mobile phones suddenly 
exploding in the hand or in the pocket or after receiving a call, 
causing disastrous consequences on the patient, family 
members and society both physically and psychologically. 
This increase in incidence in recent times is attributed mostly 
to the usage of cheap, low-quality phone and battery as well 
as the use of the mobile phone while charging. There are 
nonchargeable batteries (alkaline batteries, nickel, cadmium 
batteries) and chargeable batteries (Lithium batteries, lead 
acid batteries). Lithium ion batteries are the types used in 

1almost all smartphones and electronics.  Engineers use 
lithium because it is light and can hold a lot of energy. 
Batteries can explode when they are charged too much or too 

2,3,4fast, shoddy manufacturing of devices, overheating etc.  
Mobile battery blast is a highly underestimated aetiology for 
severe ocular morbidity.

We present 3 cases of mobile blast injury that came to us from 
sep 2018 to aug 2019

CASE 1:
A 29-year-old man sustained injury to both eyes due to mobile 
phone battery blast while using the device while being 
charged. At presentation, his RE had open globe injury with 
limbal laceration from 3-5 o' clock and uveal tissue prolapse 
(Figure 1). On LE, he had central horizontal corneal tear and 
uveal tissue prolapse (Figure 2). There were charring and few 
burn injuries of lid and adnexa. On examination, his vision 
was perception of light (PL) with inaccurate projection of rays 
in BES.  Corneal tear repair was done in BES, after a through 
exploration and taking care of the uveal tissue. After 15 days 
of follow up, B-scan of BES revealed no foreign bodies in 
posterior segment. After 3 months of follow up, vision in the RE 
was Hand Movements (HM) with inaccurate projection of rays, 
and LE PL+ve with inaccurate projection of rays. 

FIGURE 1 (RE)

FIGURE 2 (LE)

CASE 2:
A 7-year-old male presented with pain, burning sensation and 
watering from both the eyes, following a smartphone battery 
blast. He was playing games when the mobile was in charge.  
His presenting visual acuity was 20/40 and 20/60 in right eye 
and left eye (LE), respectively. Examination revealed charred 
lashes, multiple soot particles embedded over conjunctiva, 
there was no limbal ischemia. The eyes were washed with 
copious ringer lactate and the debris were carefully removed 
under slit lamp and eyes were re-examined. Fluorescein 
staining showed supercial corneal epithelial defects. 
Posterior segments and intraocular pressures were normal, 
with no intraocular foreign bodies. He also had fracture of 
right forearm, for which he underwent treatment. Topical 
preservative free lubricants, broad-spectrum antibacterial 
agent, and cycloplegic agent, were prescribed along with 
systemic nonsteroidal anti-inammatory drug for pain relief. 
The healing of epithelial defects started next day and was 
complete by the 3rd day. Inammation subsided in 1 week 
with good nal outcome in both eyes unaided visual acuity 
20/20.

FIGURE 3

DISSCUSION:
Lithium-ion batteries are incredibly efcient but have issues 

MOBILE BLAST INJURY IN EYE

Original Research Paper

Sharmistha Behera Associate Professor, Vssimsar, Burla, Odisha 

Pramod Kumar 
Sharma

Assistant Professor, Vssimsar, Burla, Odisha

  X 19GJRA - GLOBAL JOURNAL FOR RESEARCH ANALYSIS

Ophthalmology

With advancing technology, use of mobile phones has become a routine. Indiscriminate use of mobile 
phones, poor quality equipment, mishandling has resulted in an increased number of blast cases. We feel 

mobile blast injury is emerging as a new mode of ocular trauma ranging from corneal burn to open globe injury. Here we present 
2 cases of BOMBILE. Prevention is always better by observing mobile safety guidelines.

ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS : Mobile Blast Injury 

VOLUME-9, ISSUE-2, FEBRUARY-2020 • PRINT ISSN No. 2277 - 8160 • DOI : 10.36106/gjra

Ankita Mahapatra* rd3  Yr. Pg Resident, Vssimsar,burla,odisha *Corresponding Author

Jayashree Dora Professor & HOD, Vssimsar, Burla, Odisha

Satya Sundar 
Biswal

rd3  Yr. Pg Resident, Vssimsar, Burla, Odisha 



20 X GJRA - GLOBAL JOURNAL FOR RESEARCH ANALYSIS

with heat. They stuff freakish amounts of energy in a tiny 
package. These batteries may overheat during charging 
leading to “thermal runaway,” an unregulated increase in 

4internal battery temperature.  Inside the main line of defence 
against short circuiting is a thin and porous slip of 
polypropylene that keeps the electrodes from touching. If that 
separator is breached, the electrodes come in contact, and 
things get very hot very quickly. The batteries are also lled 
with a ammable electrolyte, one that can combust when it 
heats up, then really get going once oxygen hits it. Thus, the 
mechanism of injury from battery blast could be a 
combination of mechanical (battery pieces), thermal, and 

5chemical injuries .  Zieker AW et al., reported a case about 
6 corneal injury due to watch battery explosion. The present 

data on ocular injury by mobile blast is insufcient. Few case 
reports published from India had presented good outcome on 
timely and proper management of cases. A case report from 

7India published by Narang et al  has reported grade 1 ocular 
surface burn with multiple soot particles over cornea and 
conjunctiva with charred eye.  Similar ocular injuries due to 

8mobile blast were reported by Ohri et al  Data present on 
morbidity due to mobile blast is underestimated as reported 
cases from India. had presented good outcome on timely and 
proper management of cases. A case series from India 
reporting severe ocular morbidity due to globe rupture with 
resultant vision of perception of light. Only 1 of the 4 eyes could 
attain the visual acuity of counting nger at 4 feet in the series. 
9 Our cases were comparable with moderate visual outcome.

CONCLUSION:
We think, mobile blast injury is emerging as a new mode of 
ocular injury and can cause fatal blinding complications.

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VOLUME-9, ISSUE-2, FEBRUARY-2020 • PRINT ISSN No. 2277 - 8160 • DOI : 10.36106/gjra