Case reports on the lurking danger of mobile phone battery explosion

Abstract

Eye injuries are commonly known to be as a result of road traffic accidents or physical assault but there is an emerging concern of injuries caused by phone battery explosion. With the common everyday use of mobile phones by Kenyans, it is important to highlight the potential risks of phone battery explosion. The explosion results in serious eye injuries from physical, thermal, and chemical injuries.  We present three patients with eye injuries due to mobile phone battery explosion seen at the Kenyatta National hospital in Nairobi Kenya between July 2019 and August 2024. The patients had severe eye injuries. Their management included both surgical and medical treatment. The visual outcomes of the injured eyes ranged from moderate to severe visual impairment. The findings of this study show the profound impact of these types of injury on vision. It is recommended by the authors of this article that there is need to educate the public on the risks and preventive measures.