Korean J Ophthalmol.  2008 Dec;22(4):272-275. 10.3341/kjo.2008.22.4.272.

A Case of an Asymptomatic Intralenticular Foreign Body

• Chang YS
• Jeong YC
• Ko BY

• KMID: 1084218
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2008.22.4.272

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to report a case of an asymptomatic intralenticular metallic foreign body that was retained for 6 months. A 66-year-old male visited our ophthalmology department because of decreased visual acuity in his left eye 6 months after he suffered ocular trauma while mowing. He had not been treated because he did not experience any discomfort. His corrected visual acuity was 0.4. Central corneal opacity, an intralenticular metallic foreign body, and an intact posterior capsule were observed on slit lamp examination. Phacoemulsification with posterior chamber lens implantation and simultaneous removal of the intralenticular foreign body was performed. Seventeen days after the operation, his corrected visual acuity was 1.0, the intraocular lens was well-seated, and there was no intraocular inflammation. In this case report, a patient was found to have an intralenticular metallic foreign body retained for 6 months. During this time he did not experience any ocular dysfunction due to the foreign body. Mowing accidents are common in Korea. Despite the absence of symptoms, patients reporting a history of lawn mowing should be thoroughly examined.

Keyword

Cataract; Intralenticular metallic foreign body; Mowing

MeSH Terms

Accidents, Home
Aged
Eye Foreign Bodies/*etiology/surgery
Eye Injuries, Penetrating/*etiology/surgery
Humans
Lens Implantation, Intraocular
Lens, Crystalline/*injuries
Male
*Metals
Phacoemulsification
Visual Acuity

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Slit lamp photography at the first visit shows corneal opacity and an intralenticular metallic foreign body.

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  Fig. 2 Photograph of the removed intralenticular metallic foreign body (1.0×0.7 mm).

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  Fig. 3 At 17 days postoperatively, slit lamp photography shows a clear wound and a well-seated posterior chamber IOL. (A: before dilation, B: after dilation)

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