Abstract

BACKGROUND: Virectomy is recognized as one of the best effective methodsfor removing interetinal foreign bodies, but many authors showed complications during or after removingIOFB. The purpose of our study was to show that the use of perfluorocarbon liquid minimizes complicationsduring pars plana vitrectomy for the removal of metallic intraretinal foreign bodies (IRFBs). MATERIAL/METHODS:Fourteen consecutive eyes presenting with penetrating eye injury and intraretinal foreign bodies hadpreviously undergone vitrectomy with injection of perfluorocarbon liquids and removal of IRFBs. In allcases a silicon oil or gas C3F8 tamponade was performed. In one case the removal of the foreign bodywas combined with repair of retinal detachment using internal tamponade with silicon oil. RESULTS: Aftera mean follow-up of 16.4 months, 78.5% of the eyes had recovered better than 20/70 vision, and 92.8%had attached retina. One patient had endophthalmitis and phthisis, and perioperative complications wereencountered in two cases. In one case there was a limited hemorrhage, intraretinal, while the other complicationwas a retinal detachment, which was immediately corrected. In the follow-up period endophthalmitis andlens opacity was found in one patient and epiretinal membrane in another case. These postoperative complicationswere repaired by additional surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The usage of perfluorocarbon liquid is effective forremoval of intraretinal foreign bodies, and allows to minimize intraoperative complications.

Keywords: Eye Injuries, Penetrating, Fluorocarbons, Foreign Bodies, Metals