Occult open globe injury in a patient with corneal foreign body: a case report

To demonstrate the role of ultrasonographic biomicroscopy in diagnosing occult open globe injury.

A 50-year old man presented with a 2-day history of a corneal foreign body caused by a missile injury. Slit lamp biomicroscopy showed an intrastromal corneal foreign body measuring 0.7 x 0.7 mm, situated at the visual axis. Seidel test was negative. Full thickness corneal penetration could not be ruled out and an ultrasonographic biomicroscopy examination was subsequently performed.

Ultrasonographic biomicroscopy revealed a probable full thickness corneal penetration. The patient was diagnosed with penetrating corneal injury.

Ultrasonographic biomicroscopy has an important role in the diagnosis of occult open globe injury.