Long-term visual acuity results after penetrating and perforating ocular injuries.

Of 33 consecutive patients (30 males and three females, ranging in age from 5 to 48 years) with penetrating ocular injuries, 13 had retained metallic intraocular foreign bodies. The remaining 20 had no retained foreign bodies and their injuries were generally more severe lacerating or double perforating injuries. Magnet extraction was used for foreign body extraction when possible, and pars plana posterior vitrectomy was used only for late complications. The long-term visual acuity results indicated that wound repair, conventional magnet extraction, and removal of traumatic cataract and anterior vitreous blood through a limbal incision is still a viable treatment for many such injuries.