Accidental intravitreal injection of a veterinary inactivated FMD vaccine resulting in noninfectious intraocular inflammation: a case report - Report - MDSpire

Accidental intravitreal injection of a veterinary inactivated FMD vaccine resulting in noninfectious intraocular inflammation: a case report

  • By

  • Xin Zhang

  • Peipei Jia

  • Zheng Fan

  • Xiaolu Cao

  • Zhimin Chen

  • May 22, 2026

  • 0 min

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Clinical Report: Unintentional Intravitreal Administration of a Vaccine

Overview

This report details a case of severe noninfectious intraocular inflammation resulting from the accidental intravitreal injection of a veterinary vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease.

Background

Accidental intravitreal injections of non-human biological agents are rare but can lead to significant ocular complications. The bivalent inactivated foot-and-mouth disease vaccine is not approved for human use, and its injection can trigger severe inflammatory responses.

Data Highlights

No numerical data or trial data is presented in the article.

Key Findings

  • A 48-year-old man developed severe noninfectious intraocular inflammation after accidental injection of a veterinary vaccine.
  • Initial symptoms included eyelid ecchymosis and blurred vision, leading to a significant decline in visual acuity.
  • Ophthalmic examination revealed marked inflammatory changes, including corneal edema and dense vitreous haze.
  • Diagnostic imaging indicated vitreous opacification and raised suspicion of an intraocular foreign body.
  • Routine laboratory tests showed no significant abnormalities, emphasizing the noninfectious nature of the inflammation.

Clinical Implications

Clinicians should be aware of the potential for severe intraocular inflammation following accidental exposure to veterinary vaccines. Prompt recognition and appropriate management are essential to prevent irreversible vision loss.

Conclusion

This case underscores the importance of understanding the risks associated with accidental intravitreal injections of non-human biological agents and the need for careful diagnostic evaluation.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Retinal Physician, Ocular Inflammation After Intravitreal Injections, 2018 -- A review of data on incidence and implications.
  2. Retinal Physician, Complications of Intravitreal Injections, 2022 -- Incidence is low, but caution is warranted.
  3. Retinal Physician, Endophthalmitis Following Intravitreal Injection of Anti-VEGF Agents, 2014 -- Although rare, infection remains a concern.
  4. Timing and Determinants of Post-Injection Endophthalmitis After First-Time Anti-VEGF Administration, ScienceDirect -- A retrospective national study.
  5. Retinal Physician — Intraocular Inflammation Associated With Current and Prospective Therapies for Patients With Wet AMD
  6. Timing and Determinants of Post-Injection Endophthalmitis After First-Time Anti-VEGF Administration: A Retrospective National Study in the American Academy of Ophthalmology IRIS® Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight) - ScienceDirect
  7. Post Injection Endophthalmitis (PIE) - EyeWiki
  8. Endophthalmitis – EURETINA

Original Source(s)

Accidental intravitreal injection of a veterinary inactivated FMD vaccine resulting in noninfectious intraocular inflammation: a case report

  • by Xin Zhang, Peipei Jia, Zheng Fan, Xiaolu Cao, Zhimin Chen

  • May 22, 2026

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