45-year-old shot in the eye survives AND escapes going blind after a .22-caliber pistol bullet lodged in his socket

December 5, 2017  11:59

These fascinating medical scans show a bullet embedded in a 45-year-old man's eye socket - who escaped with his vision intact.

The patient, whose identity is unknown, was shot with a .22-caliber pistol - one of the most common sizes of ammunition for such a weapon.

Baffled doctors revealed gunshots to this part of the skull often cause 'significant destruction' to the brain of the victim.

However, in this medical marvel, published in the prestigious JAMA Ophthalmology, the Californian man was left unscathed.

Medics also revealed that his vision wasn't damaged - despite being shot in the eye. He continues to have 20/70 vision in his right eye.

Escaping death 

The patient escaped death because the bullet had to travel through a wooden door and thus slowed down before entering his socket, they revealed.

Writing in the journal, the team at the University of California, San Francisco, said: 'Projectile injury to the orbit is a function of size, speed, and trajectory. 

What did the experts say? 

'Air and BB gun pellets are small with limited velocity and typically come to rest within the orbit, causing minimal soft tissue injury. 

'Conversely, bullets are larger and travel at much higher speeds, often resulting in significant destruction to the orbit, adjacent sinuses, and brain.

'Although this patient was shot with a .22-caliber bullet, it passed through a barrier, reducing its velocity and limiting damage.'

Extracting the bullet 

Ophthalmologists, led by Reza Vagefi, were able to extract the bullet in its entirety and the man's eye lacerations were treated. 

Following the operation, the patient's pain was cured rapidly. Prior to the procedure, he was left in severe pain. 

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