Abstract
BACKGROUND: A case of thermal ocular injury associated with retinal necrosis and vitreous inflammation is reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old man's right eye was hit by a heated screw, which embedded directly into the nasal orbit. Two weeks after the foreign body was removed, serious vitreous inflammation and a large yellow-white lesion on the nasal peripheral retina, which resembled a subretinal abscess, were observed. Endophthalmitis could not be ruled out and vitrectomy was performed. During vitrectomy, we identified the yellow-white lesion as retinal necrosis and edema, with localized retinal detachment within the lesion. After surgery, there was significant macular atrophy with poor vision. CONCLUSION: Thermal retinal burns must be differentiated from infectious endophthalmitis to ensure timely anti-inflammatory treatment.