War Surgery and Medicine
Sympathetic Ophthalmia
Sympathetic Ophthalmia
Sympathetic ophthalmia proved very uncommon, only one case being reported in the Middle East Forces in three years. No case of sympathetic ophthalmia was recorded in 2 NZEF. There were periods of anxiety, however, when cases with penetrating wounds of the globe were evacuated to the Base and any delay meant encroachment on the danger period. This was accentuated by the shortage of ophthalmologists in 2 NZEF. No ophthalmologist was attached to a New Zealand general hospital in Italy until 1 General Hospital went there five months after the force had landed. Cases during this period were referred back to Egypt, causing some danger of delay in treatment.