Surgical outcomes of the removal of posterior segment metallic intraocular foreign bodies.

Background: Posterior segment metallic intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) are a leading cause of visual morbidity and blindness, especially among young and middle-aged working populations. Here, we aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of the removal of such IOFBs that result from injuries.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 39 patients injured by metallic posterior segment IOFBs and who underwent primary repair procedures, vitrectomies, and IOFBs removal with or without procedures for traumatic cataract removal, scleral buckling and intraoperative tamponade application from January, 2008 to January, 2019. We analyzed the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative related factors that affect the final visual outcomes.

Results: The mean age of the 39 patients was 40.51 ± 12.48 years with the male being predominent (100%).The mean preoperative vision measured 1.50 [Snellen Equivalent (SE), 20/645] ± 1.12 logMAR with the mean final vision measuring 0.93 (SE, 20/172) ± 1.09 logMAR. The related factors that were determined to affect the final visual outcomes included preoperative vision (P = 0.025), IOFB-related macula injuries (P = 0.001) and the development of postoperative complications (P = 0.005) especially retinal detachment (P = 0.002) with the mean final vision measuring 2.12 (SE, counting finger to hand motion) ±1.23 logMAR. Concerning the preoperative signs, the patients with preoperative endophthalmitis also obtained poor mean final vision measuring 1.30 (SE,20/400) ± 1.40 logMAR.

Conclusion: IOFB-related macula injuries and postoperative retinal detachment were important related factors of poor final visual prognoses in cases involving posterior segment metallic IOFBs. Removing IOFB as early as possible may prevent preoperative endophthalmitis which could lead poor final visions even without significance.