25-Gauge active aspiration silicon tip–assisted removal of glass and other intraocular foreign bodies

Abstract

ObjectivesTo describe the use of 25-gauge active aspiration silicon tip in removal of intraocular foreign bodies, including glass. DesignRetrospective, noncomparative, interventional study. ParticipantsEleven eyes of 11 patients who underwent the procedure between January 2013 and April 2015. Material and MethodsThe study included 10 males and 1 female with a mean age of 31.27 ± 9.64 years (range 12–45 years). All eyes in which 25-gauge active aspiration silicon tip–assisted removal of intraocular foreign body (IOFB) was done in a sutureless vitrectomy setup, irrespective of the nature of IOFB, were included. We excluded the participants with less than 6 months of postoperative follow-up. The primary outcome of the study was to assess the feasibility and reproducibility of 25-gauge active aspiration silicon tip–assisted removal of IOFB. The secondary outcome measures included change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and intraoperative and postoperative complications. ResultsThere were iron (6), glass (2), wooden (1), pellet (1), and stone (1) IOFBs, for which 25-gauge active aspiration silicon tip–assisted removal was done successfully. The mean BCVA in Snellen’s decimal equivalent improved significantly from 0.14 ± 0.16 to 0.34 ± 0.36 with a mean follow-up of 12 months (range 6–24 months). Intraoperatively, drop of IOFB because of loss of vacuum was observed in 2 eyes. Postoperatively, cystoid macular edema with epiretinal membrane was seen in 1 eye. There were no other intraoperative and postoperative complications. ConclusionsUse of 25-gauge active aspiration silicon tip to assist removal of magnetic and nonmagnetic IOFBs is a feasible and reproducible procedure, and required instrumentation is readily available in present-day vitrectomy era.