A man from the Philadelphia area suffered a rare ocular bee sting while walking near a beehive, leading to severe eye inflammation and vision impairment.
His eye became swollen, inflamed, bloodshot, and his vision deteriorated to the point where he could only count fingers due to a small, spear-like fragment of the bee's stinger lodged near his cornea.
Upon examination at Wills Eye Hospital, ophthalmologists used specialized equipment, including a slit lamp and micro-forceps, to visualize and successfully remove the stinger remnant.
The man was prescribed antibacterial and steroid eye drops, and his vision improved after five months, reaching 20/25.
Ophthalmologists recommend seeking immediate medical attention if stung in the eye, as small fragments may be missed, leading to further complications.
Ocular bee stings are very rare, with unknown incidence rates in the scientific literature.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Ars Technica, Mirror