Retained polyvinyl chloride fragments in the cornea following trauma

PVC is a synthetic plastic polymer used worldwide for a wide range of applications. While it is often associated with ocular trauma, little is known regarding how PVC may interact with ocular tissues. Herein we report the clinical course of a patient with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) embedded in the cornea after a projectile injury, utilizing anterior segment optical tomography to study the relative antigenicity and reactivity of this industrial material in the cornea.

A 29-year-old male presented with acute, unilateral vision loss in the left eye following ocular trauma while working with PVC. On exam, he had a near full-thickness corneal laceration with multiple small fragments of PVC in the corneal stroma. Given the small size and depth of the fragments, the patient was medically managed with close follow-up. After 6 days, his visual acuity returned to baseline and the corneal laceration was found to be well healed. Anterior OCT imaging identified discrete, individual fragments and there was no associated inflammatory response. At 3 months, the patient continued to do well with no signs of ocular inflammation.

PVC is a commonly used plastic in workplace settings that pose a risk for projectile injuries to the eye. This case highlights that at least in the short-term, PVC appears to be inert in the corneal stroma, allowing for medical management and close follow-up, rather than surgical removal.