Abstract
Aims
To estimate the incidence of penetrating injuries with retained intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) in the United Kingdom, and to provide epidemiological data on the aetiology, management, and visual outcome of such injuries.
Methods
Cases were identified prospectively by active surveillance through the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit reporting card system, for the 12-month period June 2004 to May 2005 inclusive. Questionnaire data were obtained from UK ophthalmologists at presentation and 6 months following presentation.
Results
Data were available on 97 patients at presentation and 95 patients at follow-up. The minimum estimated incidence of IOFBs in the United Kingdom identified in this study was 0.16 per 100 000. All patients were male. Hammering was the most common mechanism of injury, occurring in 62% of patients. The IOFB was found in the anterior segment in 24%, the posterior segment in 73%, and involved both segments in 3%. Endophthalmitis was diagnosed in 9% of patients. Best-corrected visual acuity of the injured eye at final follow-up was 6/12 or better in 67%, 6/18 to 6/60 in 11%, and worse than 6/60 in 22%. Prognostic factors for a poor visual outcome included poor visual acuity at presentation, prolapse of intraocular tissue, development of endophthalmitis, development of retinal detachment, and large size of IOFB.
Conclusions
The incidence of IOFB in the United Kingdom appears to have reduced compared to previous studies. The majority of patients (67%) retain good visual acuity in the injured eye; however, a significant minority (22%) sustain long-term severe visual loss.
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Acknowledgements
We are very grateful for the support of the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit. This work was supported by a grant from the Speed Pollock Memorial Trust, for which we are grateful. We thank the following ophthalmologists who reported cases in this study: Miss G Adams, Mr S Ahmed, Mr S Amjad, Mr H Bacon, Mr Baranyovits, Dr C Barras, Mr A Bates, Mr R Bates, Mr M Batterbury, Mr G Bedford, Miss K Belfer, Mr L Benjamin, Mr R Best, Mr M Birch, Mr J Butcher, Mr A Callear, Mr C Canning, Miss P Chakraborthy, Mr S Charles, Mr D Charteris, Mr H Chen, Mr M Clarke, Mr A Coombes, Mr D Cottrell, Mr E Davies, Miss D Depla, Mr J Diamond, Prof A Dick, Mr R Downes, Mr A Elliott, Miss B Enoch, Mr E Ezra, Mr I Fawcett, Mr A Fayi-Waboso, Mr A W Fitt, Mr D Flanagan, Miss J Forbes, Dr A Gaskell, Mr F Ghanchi, Mr J Gillow, Mr R Goble, Mr C Gorman, Mr R Gray, Mr M Greaney, Mr A Greenwood, Col M Griffiths, Mr C Groenwald, Mr E G Hale, Dr H Hammer, Mrs B Harney, Miss R Harrison, Mr P Hassett, Mr R Haynes, Mr M Headon, Mr C Heaven, Mr M Hero, Mr R Hill, Mr Hiranandani, Mr C Hutchison, Mr D Inglesby, Mr M Jabir, Mr D Jones, Mr V Kayarkar, Dr P Kearns, Mr S Kelly, Mr G Kirkby, Mr J Kirkpatrick, Mr R Ling, Miss N Lois, Mr T Manners, Mr R Markham, Mr P McCormack, Mr C McLean, Mr R McPherson, Mr T Metcalfe, Miss B Mulholland, Mr D Mulholland, Dr J Murdoch, Dr R Murray, Mr C Neoh, Mr M Neugebauer, Mr D Newman, Mr A O'Driscoll, Mr C Patel, Ms S Porter, Dr B Power, Mr N Price, Dr A Pyott, Miss T Richardson, Mr M Rifaat, Mr J Sharkey, Mr R Sheard, Ms G Silvestri, Dr J Singh, Mr A Smith, Mr R Smith, Mr J Stevens, Mr C Stevenson, Mr P Sullivan, Mr V Tanner, Mr K Toor, Mr S Tuft, Mr A Tyers, Mr S Vardy, Mr G Walters, Mrs S Webber, Mr J West, Mr S White, Dr I Whyte, Mr T Williamson, Mr S Winder, and Mr W Woon.
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This work was presented at the Royal College of Ophthalmologists Annual Congress, May 2006
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Imrie, F., Cox, A., Foot, B. et al. Surveillance of intraocular foreign bodies in the UK. Eye 22, 1141–1147 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.eye.6702868
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.eye.6702868
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