A 6 1/2-years survey of intraocular and intraorbital foreign bodies in the North-west Frontier Province, Pakistan

Br J Ophthalmol. 1987 Sep;71(9):716-9. doi: 10.1136/bjo.71.9.716.

Abstract

A survey of 198 patients (210 eyes) with intraocular or intraorbital foreign bodies is presented. Most were males between 16 and 30 years of age, and 6.1% of cases were bilateral. The commonest cause was a flying particle while using a hand hammer, followed by fragments of bomb and mine blasts. Intraorbital foreign bodies occurred in 78 eyes and intraocular foreign bodies in 132 eyes. Irreparable damage caused 13 eyes (6.2%) to be enucleated. Ten eyes developed severe endophthalmitis or panophthalmitis requiring evisceration. One hundred and thirty-four (63.8%) foreign bodies were removed, and 76 (36.2%) foreign bodies could not be removed. The causes of non-removal, the various complications, and the pattern of foreign bodies in the eye or orbit in Pakistan are discussed and compared with those of other regions.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Blast Injuries / epidemiology
  • Eye Foreign Bodies / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Foreign Bodies / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology
  • Orbit / injuries*
  • Pakistan
  • Wounds, Gunshot / epidemiology