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Arch Ophthalmol. 1999;117:1090-1091.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Air compressor injuries have been implicated in numerous reported cases of facial and eye trauma. Severe facial trauma may result in fracture of the orbits or sinuses, leading to the accumulation of air within the orbit or even within the brain.¹ We report a case in which trauma to the conjunctiva (without compromise of the skull, bony orbits, or sinuses) led to accumulation of air within the brain.

Report of a Case.

A healthy 47-year-old white man was disconnecting an air compressor hose (120 psi) when the free end suddenly popped off and struck him in the right eye. The patient complained of severe pain and experienced swelling of the eyelids and bleeding from the eye socket. He was evaluated in the emergency department.

Uncorrected visual acuity was 20/100 OD and 20/20 OS. External examination revealed extensive edema and echymoses of the right eyelids. The right palpebral fissure opened only 3 mm with voluntary . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Comment.
Reprints: T. Reginald Williams, MD, Graystone Ophthalmology Associates, PO Box 2588, Hickory, NC 28603 (e-mail: retina@twave.net).