MANAGEMENT OF GLASS INTRAOCULAR FOREIGN-BODIES

Purpose: To describe the results of management of glass intraocular fo reign bodies (IOFBs). Methods: A total of 51 eyes of 43 patients that sustained penetrating injury with glass IOFB were studied retrospectiv ely. A total of 23.5% had IOFB only in the anterior segment; the rest had IOFB in the posterior segment alone or in both the anterior and po sterior segments. Six eyes were followed conservatively despite IOFB i n a functional eye. Removal of IOFB was combined with repair of retina l detachment (where present) using internal tamponade with gas or sili cone oil or buckle. Results: After a mean follow-up of 16.8 months, 66 .7% of eyes recovered better than 6/60 (20/200) vision and 75.6% had a ttached retina. On univariate analysis, scleral entry wound, posterior segment IOFB, larger size of IOFB, and retinal damage were found to b e associated with poor anatomic outcome. Lower presenting visual acuit y, hyphema, retinal damage, subretinal hemorrhage, detached retina, an d larger IOFB were associated with a poor functional result. Multivari ate analysis identified retinal damage caused by the foreign body as t he only factor significantly associated with poor anatomic as well as functional outcome. Conclusions: Glass IOFBs are caused in a majority of cases by blast injury. Bilaterality is not uncommon. Presence of re tinal damage is predictive of poor functional and anatomic results. Ov erall results are modest with modern vitreoretinal surgical techniques .