[The factors affecting the development of phthisis bulbi after penetrating eye injuries]

We aimed to investigate the factors affecting the development of phthisis bulbi after penetrating eye injuries.

The medical records of 132 patients admitted to our clinic between 2000-2006 with the diagnosis of penetrating eye injury were collected. The records of the eight patients who developed phthisis bulbi were evaluated retrospectively. The aspects of anatomic localization, type of trauma, associated events, and development of phthisis bulbi were also investigated.

The mean age of the eight patients (5 males, 3 females) was 7.12±4.70 years (range: 2-16 years) and the mean follow-up time was 2.06±1.47 years (range: 6 months-5 years). Three of eight patients developed post-perforation endophthalmitis. Three patients had zone 2-3 scleral perforation and associated retinal detachment and the remaining two patients had proliferative vitreoretinopathy according to the trauma; all eight patients eventually developed phthisis bulbi. The mean time for the development of phthisis bulbi was 5.5±2.13 months (range: 3-10 months).

After penetrating eye injuries, visual prognosis and development of phthisis bulbi were affected significantly by the factors including anatomic localization, size of the injury, associated anterior or posterior segment pathologies, and endophthalmitis secondary to the trauma.