Visual outcome and prognostic factors after vitrectomy for posterior segment foreign bodies.

PURPOSE: To identify the prognostic factors that predict final visual outcome in eyes with posterior segment intraocular foreign body (IOFB) injuries managed by primary pars plana vitrectomy.

METHODS

Ninety-six consecutive patients with posterior segment IOFB injuries were retrospectively reviewed. Factors analyzed included initial visual acuity (VA), time between injury and presentation, site of entrance wound, uveal prolapse, vitreous prolapse, traumatized iris, endophthalmitis, location and size of IOFB, use of scleral buckling and/or an encircling band, gas tamponade, lensectomy, number of surgical procedures, and development of retinal detachment. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

After a mean follow-up of 8.6 months, 63 eyes (65.6%) achieved VA of 20/200 or better, and 9 eyes (9.4%) had total retinal detachment complicated by inoperable proliferative vitreoretinopathy. On univariate analysis, predictors of poor vision (hand movements or less) were poor initial VA, corneoscleral entrance wound, uveal prolapse, vitreous prolapse, traumatized iris, and development of retinal detachment. In contrast, predictors of good visual outcome (20/200 or better) were absence of uveal prolapse, no endophthalmitis, and no retinal detachment. Multivariate analysis identified corneoscleral entrance wound, uveal prolapse, and development of retinal detachment as the only factors significantly associated with poor visual outcome. Absence of uveal prolapse was the only factor significantly associated with good visual outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Final visual outcome is greatly determined by the severity of the primary injury. On multivariate analysis, significant predictive factors of final VA were corneoscleral entrance wound, presence or absence of uveal prolapse, and development of retinal detachment.