Gonioscopy in foreign bodies of the chamber angle.

Abstract

THE ROLE of gonioscopy is widely appreciated at present, particularly in the management of glaucomatous processes; however, a valuable use of this technique appears to need emphasis. Gonioscopy permits the visualization of foreign particles in the anterior chamber angle, including those which are not demonstrable by other methods. Therefore, the procedure is of practical importance both in civilian and in military ophthalmology. The clinical manifestations of foreign bodies retained in the anterior chamber angle depend in great part on the composition and chemical activity of such objects. Retained copper and iron are poorly tolerated, leading to chalcosis and siderosis respectively. 1 Nickel, chromium, zinc, and lead are somewhat less active, while aluminum, gold, silver, and stainless steel may be well tolerated. Nonmetallic particles—sand, stone, glass, and Bakelite—may produce little or no response. 2 Stallard 1 stated that small fragments of glass and bakelite may remain quiescent in the eye for