The management of magnetic intraocular foreign bodies

The management of 34 intracocular foreign bodies is reviewed. When possible the removal of the foreign body was carried out in the quadrant closet to where the foreign body was located and through a site 4-5 mm from the limbus. A circumferential incision was made after tenting had been demonstrated while the magnet was applied to the sclera. Sweet localization and B-scan ultrasound were helfpul in patients with opague media. In particular, ultrasound was used to confirm the magenetic qualities of the foreign body when it could not be visualized ophthalmoscopically. Visual results were surprisingly gratifying, even when the foreign body had damaged the cornea and lens as evidenced by the fact that 26 patients (77%) utimately achieved a vision of 20/50 or better.