Posters

Penetrating corneal injury from remaining organic foreign body: successful conservative management

Poster Details

First Author: G. Karagiannidis-Stampoulis GREECE

Co Author(s):    E. Kanonidou                    

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To present a case of full-thickness penetrating corneal injury from remaining organic foreign body, in which conservative treatment was successful.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Hippokrateion General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

Methods:

A 51 year-old male patient presented in the emergency department reporting an injury to his right eye 2 days ago. A full-thickness penetrating foreign body (small thorn) was found in the cornea, at 6 o’ clock. Seidel test was negative. There was stromal inflammation around the trauma, folds in Descemet membrane and aqueous flare, no hypopyon was present. The pupil was mid-dilated, the visual acuity was 10/10cc +1,50sph for the right eye and 10/10sc for the left eye. Eye movement was normal.

Results:

Foreign body removal was considered to be dangerous, therefore conservative treatment was applied. Topical and systemic antibiotics were administered. Topical dexamethasone was added on the 4th day, when the patient was discharged. On the 5th day, the cornea was transparent and the anterior chamber was clear. 7 days later the foreign body had disappeared, leaving a mild local corneal clouding. The patient’s VA was 10/10sc for both eyes. After 1 month, on the review, the clouding was gone too.

Conclusions:

Although most ocular foreign bodies can and should be removed, in some cases a foreign body removal could cause further damage. Therefore, the pros and cons must be considered. If early infection is avoided, it is possible that foreign organic material can be well tolerated by the eye.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE