J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2010 Jan;51(1):141-144.

Intraocular Foreign Body of a Vitreous Cutter Tip Fragment

• Lee YC
• Park JH
• Choi GJ
• Kim DH

Abstract

PURPOSE
To report a case of intraocular foreign body of a vitreous cutter tip fragment.
CASE SUMMARY
A 60-year-old women was referred by her ophthalmologist with a two-day history of visual disturbance in her right eye. She had undergone pars plana vitrectomy, barrier laser and C3F8 gas injection due to pseudophakic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in our retinal service center four months previously. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy of her right eye showed cornea stromal edema with Descemet membrane folding. Gonioscopic examination revealed a metallic foreign body in the direction of the 6-o'clock anterior chamber angle. Anterior chamber irrigation with successful removal of the metallic foreign body using intraocular foreign body forceps was performed. The removed intraocular foreign body was a vitrectomy cutter tip fragment 20 gauge in size and 3 mm in length. After surgery, the corneal stromal edema disappeared and her visual acuity in the right eye recovered.
CONCLUSIONS
Intraoperative breakage of vitreous cutter tips can occur and cause toxic ocular tissue reaction. Care should be taken against vitreous cutter tip breakage during vitrectomy.

Keyword

Intraocular foreign body; Vitreous cutter tip

MeSH Terms

Anterior Chamber
Cornea
Descemet Membrane
Edema
Eye
Female
Foreign Bodies
Humans
Middle Aged
Retinal Detachment
Retinaldehyde
Surgical Instruments
Visual Acuity
Vitrectomy
Retinaldehyde

Figure

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  Figure 1. (A) Slit lamp photograph. Stromal edema with Descemet's membrane folding is shown in the inferior cornea. (B) Specular microscopic findings. Endothelial cell count diminished.

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  Figure 2. Gonioscopic examination showed a metallic foreign body in the direction of 6-o'clock anterior chamber angle.

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  Figure 3. Removed foreign body is a fragment of vitreous cutter tip, 3-mm in length.

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  Figure 4. (A) Slit lamp photograph. Stromal edema and Descemet's membrane folding disappeared. (B) Specular microscopic findings. Normal endothelial cell distribution is shown.

Reference

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