INADVERTENT GLOBE PERFORATION DURING RETROBULBAR INJECTION IN HIGH MYOPES

Purpose: To report ocular perforation that occurred during retrobulbar injection in 7 highly myopic eyes. Methods. Seven patients with a dia gnosis of globe injury during retrobulbar injection for ocular anesthe sia before cataract surgery were managed by vitreoretinal surgery. All injections were performed by ophthalmologists. The surgeon recognized the perforation in 4 cases at the time of injection. The preoperative vision was hand motion perception in 4 eyes and light perception in 3 eyes. All patients underwent vitreoretinal surgery because of the pre sence of vitreous hemorrhage and/or retinal detachment diagnosed by fu nduscopy or ultrasonography. At the time of surgery, all eyes had vitr eous hemorrhage and 4 eyes had rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. The number of vitreoretinal procedures performed was: 1 procedure in 4 pat ients, 2 procedures in 2 patients, and 3 procedures in 1 patient. The period of follow-up ranged from 4 months to 4 years, averaging 20 mont hs. Results: At the end of the follow-up period, the retina was attach ed in 6 patients. The postoperative vision was 20/400 in 3 eyes, finge r counting in 3 eyes, and light perception in 1 eye. Conclusion: Speci al care should be taken in retrobulbar injection of highly myopic glob es, which have an increased risk of perforation. The functional outcom e of surgical repair of these eyes was poor.