David Maina K., 6

David is a 6-year-old boy who lives with his father and grandmother following his parents’ separation when he was young. His father is a casual labourer who only earns when work is available, averaging about USD 17 per month. This limited and unpredictable income must cover food, rent, clothing, schooling and other household needs, leaving the family with little or no savings for unexpected medical expenses. David is the second-born child, enjoys reading, playing and travelling, and dreams of becoming a pilot. David was playing with other children when a piece of glass accidentally injured his left eye. He developed significant eye pain and was immediately taken to a nearby facility for initial pain management before being referred for specialist care. Further assessment revealed a left corneoscleral perforation with hyphema, indicating a serious penetrating eye injury with blood inside the front part of the eye. Due to the risk of infection, permanent visual impairment or loss of vision, David required urgent corneoscleral repair and anterior chamber washout to repair the damaged eye and preserve vision.

David has a severe sight-threatening open-globe injury requiring urgent corneoscleral repair and management of the hyphema. Delay may increase the risk of infection inside the eye, continued bleeding, scarring, glaucoma, retinal complications and permanent loss of vision or, in severe cases, loss of the eye. His visual prognosis depends on the extent of internal damage and how quickly repair is performed. Long-term ophthalmology follow-up is essential to monitor healing, vision, eye pressure and late complications.