[Early vitrectomy in the treatment of severe eye injuries]

Several authors regard early vitrectomy as the best guarantee of success in cases of severe ocular injury. The present authors reviewed their own group of 27 patients, which included 13 cases with intraocular foreign bodies, 6 cases of blunt trauma and 8 with perforating injuries. Aside from cases which later developed retinal complications, vitrectomy was performed in 25 patients, though rarely more than a month after injury. The mean duration of postoperative follow-up was 22 months (minimum 6 month, maximum 66 months). The results and the need for silicone oil injection are discussed and compared with the literature. The timing of vitrectomy is of major importance.