Occult plastic intravitreal foreign body retained for 30 years: a case report

A 41-year-old man had suffered trauma to the right eye 30 years ago. In March 1996, he underwent trabeculectomy and peripheral iridectomy under the diagnosis of open angle glaucoma in the right eye. Autoperimetry at that time revealed visual field constriction. In addition, ocular examination showed that the cup/disc ratio of his right eye was increased. Cataract was diagnosed in September 2002 and cataract extraction was performed on October 22, 2002. Aplastic intravitreal foreign body was detected during the operation. However, preoperative B-scan ultrasonography had failed to detect an intraocular foreign body (IOFB), and the previous fluorescein angiography had shown only retinal pigment epithelium changes. This case reminded us that we should be alert to an occult IOFB in the event of ocular trauma, even if none had been detected during prior imaging examinations.