[Surgical treatment of perforating eye injuries due to intraocular foreign bodies]

Twenty-three consecutive cases of perforating ocular injuries with retained intraocular foreign body (IOFB) are examined in this retrospective study. The group most affected was that of males with mean age of 32 years, who sustained a job injury, presenting with a single corneal laceration. Of the 23 cases with injuries 22 (95%) were due to metallic foreign bodies. Of these, 12 (54%) involved foreign bodies of ferromagnetic origin. At surgery 14 (61%) of the 23 IOFB were removed with forceps and 9 (39%) with electromagnet. From these patients 87% obtained visual acuity equal or better than that on admission.