Skin burn, bilateral iridocyclitis and amnesia following a lightning injury.

PURPOSE

To describe a case of lightning injury restricted to the eyes and facial skin.

METHODS

Case history describing the clinical examination of a 54-year-old woman.

RESULTS

Following a lightning stroke the patient suffered from a sharply demarcated facial skin burn and bilateral iridocyclitis with raised intraocular pressure. Initially she had amnesia regarding the incident. She recovered on symptomatic treatment, with dry eyes as the only sequela.

CONCLUSION

We suggest that a lightning current travelled over the outside of the patient's body facilitated by her wet raincoat, a so-called flash-over. Thereby, she was spared from more severe injury, and only the exposed areas of the face and eyes were affected.