Abstract
Purpose The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological and visual outcomes and to identify the main prognostic factors of intralenticular foreign body (ILFB) injuries. Methods We performed a retrospective review of 21 patients (21 eyes) referred to Hebei Eye Hospital in North China from January 2012 to December 2017, who underwent surgical removal of ILFBs and associated ocular trauma repairs. Data regarding the patient demographics, cause of the injury, nature of the ILFB, clinical features, time interval between the injury and the ILFB removal, time interval between the presentation and the surgery, and the initial and final best-corrected visual acuities (BCVAs) were analyzed, and the main prognostic factors were identified. Results Male adults were most affected by ILFBs (90.5%). The mean age of the patients was 41.5 years (median: 46 years, range: 21 to 60 years). None of the patients were wearing goggles at the time of the injury. The most common ILFB cause was hammering the metal (57.1%), and most of the ILFBs were metallic (71.4%). After medical treatment, the final BCVA was improved significantly (Z = 2.49, P=0.015). There was a significant association between the ILFBs with posterior segment injuries and the final BCVA (χ2 = 10.03, P=0.01). Those factors showing no statistical association with the final BCVA included the age (χ2 = 0.36, P=1.0), gender (χ2 = 0.52, P=1.0), nature of the ILFB (χ2 = 1.11, P=0.54), entrance wound location (χ2 = 2.85, P=0.25), and time interval between the injury and the ILFB removal (χ2 = 1.87, P=0.23). Conclusion This is the first local study to explore the epidemiology of ILFB injuries and to identify the main prognostic factors. There was a significant association between the ILFBs with posterior segment injuries and the final BCVA. Improved public awareness and strengthened education regarding safety are the key approaches to reduce the incidence of eye injuries.
Highlights
Open-globe injuries are some of the main causes of severe vision loss leading to blindness worldwide
Intralenticular foreign bodies (ILFBs) are a special subgroup of Intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs). ey are not commonly encountered, and they account for approximately 5% to 10% of all IOFBs [3]. e visual acuity of those patients usually shows some decline due to the aggravation of a traumatic cataract. e management of an intralenticular foreign body (ILFB) includes an assessment of its size, site, material, potential for infection, lenticular damage degree, and the damage degree of other related tissues [4]
During the 6-year study period, 265 patients underwent surgeries for the removal of IOFBs; 21 (7.9%) patients with ILFBs met the inclusion criteria, and they were included in this retrospective study. e mean age of the patients was 41.5 years old
Summary
Open-globe injuries are some of the main causes of severe vision loss leading to blindness worldwide. Intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) may be associated with up to 40% of open-globe injuries, especially in terms of work-related injuries [1, 2]. As an important cause of preventable blindness, the overall epidemiology, diagnosis, and surgical management of posterior segment IOFBs have been investigated extensively in many countries [5,6,7,8]. Erefore, we aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinical features and the visual outcomes of patients with ILFBs in a tertiary hospital in North China. We aimed to identify the main prognostic factors that affected the visual outcomes, which afford key data to guide the future management of this preventable sight-threatening condition
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