Case-control study of risk factors for no light perception after open-globe injury: eye injury vitrectomy study

Investigate possible risk factors of no light perception (NLP) after open-globe injury. Explore whether these risk factors are predictors for an unfavorable visual outcome.

This case-control study matched 72 eyes with NLP according to type and zone of injury to 2 controls per case with light perception or better vision. Cases were selected from the Eye Injury Vitrectomy Study database. All injured eyes in the study underwent surgical intervention.

Ciliary body damage (odds ratio = 2.94), closed funnel retinal detachment (odds ratio = 2.43), and choroidal damage (odds ratio = 2.80) were independent risk factors for NLP after open-globe injury. There were 67 traumatized eyes with NLP that had ≥1 of these risk factors. In 43 of the cases (64.2%), the eyes recovered light perception or better after vitreoretinal surgery. The five traumatized NLP cases without these risk factors obtained a favorable visual outcome after vitreoretinal surgery. There was no statistical significance in visual outcome between them (P = 0.162).

Ciliary body damage, closed funnel retinal detachment, and choroidal damage are independent risk factors for NLP posttrauma but not prognostic indicators for NLP visual outcome. Traumatized eyes with NLP may recover light perception or better vision if appropriate interventional measures are used for treatment of the injured ciliary body, retina, and choroid.