Penetrating ocular trauma from an exploding microwaved egg

Editor—Microwave heating results in positive pressure, especially in food confined by a membrane. Eggs with intact shells, intact egg yolks in open shells, and even pierced yolks can explode when microwaved. Exploding microwaved eggs or eggshells have caused facial, eyelid, and corneal burns of varying severity.¹ One published case of intraocular trauma from an exploding microwaved egg presented as an anterior chamber epithelial inclusion cyst two years later.² We report a case of serious ocular trauma from an exploding microwaved egg.

A 9 year old girl reheated a previously boiled egg (with an intact shell) using a domestic microwave oven at full power for about 40 seconds. The heated egg was removed from the microwave oven and placed in a bowl. Around 30 seconds later, as she was carrying it to the dining area, the egg exploded with part of it hitting her right eye and face.

She sustained a full thickness corneal perforation and rupture of the anterior lens capsule, reducing her vision to being able to see only hand movements. After primary corneal repair and then cataract aspiration with intraocular lens insertion three months later (figure), visual acuity recovered to 6/6 unaided and posterior segment examination was normal.

Figure 1.

Intraoperative photograph of traumatic cataract and repaired corneal perforation after injury by exploding microwaved egg

In their instruction manuals manufacturers of microwave ovens warn against heating eggs with an intact shell and recommend multiple piercing before cooking or heating eggs, even those already boiled. In view of the potential seriousness of injury from exploding microwaved eggs, such warnings should be made more obvious, possibly being displayed on the microwave oven itself.