Purpose: To evaluate late complications in patients with penetrating ocular injuries caused by intraocular or intraorbital foreign bodies (IOFBs).
Material and methods: We reviewed 58 posttraumatic patients with IOFBs removed by external electromagnet or intraocular forceps. The patients underwent a follow-up examinations at 1 to 7 years after trauma. We noted final visual acuity, frequency and type of complications and following surgical treatment.
Results: Final visual acuity of 5/50 or more was obtained in 65.5% of patients. Ocular complications were found in 50 patients (86.2%). The most frequent consequence of past trauma was corneal scar (58.6%), cataract (44.8%), and retinal detachment (20.7%). 37 patients (63.7%), required the next surgical interventions. 23 patients 139.6%), underwent posttraumatic cataract extraction, 9 (15.5%)--pars plana vitrectomy for retinal detachment or vitreoretinal proliferations, 5 (8.6%)--scleral buckling procedure, 3 (5.2%)--antiglaucoma surgery, and 2 (3.4%)--enucleation.
Conclusions: Penetrating ocular injuries caused by IOFBs were often complicated with corneal scar, cataract and retinal detachment. More than 2/3rd of patients required subsequent surgical interventions.