Background  

Complications associated with the use of extra-oral traction devices (orthodontic headgear or facebow) including facial and ocular injuries, are considered infrequent.

Methods  

We describe the case of a 12-year-old boy who was inadvertently injured by the metallic bow of orthodontic headgear during sleep and developed blinding intra-ocular infection (endophthalmitis).

Results  

The injury resulted in corneal perforation. Visual acuity at presentation was 20/60 but deteriorated rapidly to light perception despite prompt medical and surgical treatment for endophathalmitis. Sympathetic ophthalmia developed and was controlled with systemic corticosteroids and imuran. Bacterial cultures showed mixed infection by Gram-negative bacilli and Streptococcus viridans. In 10 (91%) out of the 11 eyes that were reported including our case, the visual acuity was hand movement perception or less.

Conclusions  

The increase in case reports of such injuries should prompt the establishment of a standard policy regarding the use of orthodontic headgear and increase awareness of orthodontists and ophthalmologists to the blinding potential of even trivial and minor ocular injuries by orthodontic headgear. Intervention should be one step ahead compared with ocular injuries from other foreign bodies.