Primary Combined Pars Plana Vitrectomy and Phacoemulsification With Anterior Segment Removal of Posterior Segment Intraocular Foreign Bodies: A 30-Month Longitudinal Study

Purpose: To describe a surgical technique and report visual and anatomical outcomes after primary combined pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and phacoemulsification in patients with posterior segment intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) removed via the anterior chamber without enlarging preexisting sclerotomies. Posterior IOFBs are generally managed in a stepwise surgery consisting of phacoemulsification/lensectomy for traumatic cataract removal then PPV and removal of IOFB through enlarged sclerotomies. Enlarged sclerotomies may carry a significant risk of hypotony, vitreous hemorrhage, vitreous and retinal incarceration, and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Limited studies exist on long-term results of primary anterior segment removal of posterior IOFB combined with primary phacoemulsification. Methods: Medical records of consecutive patients who had ocular lacerations and posterior segment IOFB between October 2003 and June 2017 in a university hospital were reviewed. Patients who received a combined primary IOFB removal and phacoemulsification were included in the study. The postoperative evolution including visual acuity and complications were all recorded. Results: Thirteen patients (13 eyes) were included in the study. All patients were men, and the average age at presentation was 38 years. All IOFB were metallic, and their size ranged from 2 to 7 mm. All patients were operated within 24 hours of presentation. Six (46%) of the 13 lacerations were corneal, and 7 (54%) were scleral. Overall, 9 of 13 (69%) had a final postoperative best-corrected visual acuity equal to or better than 20 of 25. There were 3 (23%) postoperative complications of recurrent rhegmatogenous retinal detachment that occurred within the first postoperative year. Conclusion: Primary combined PPV and phacoemulsification with the removal of IOFB via the anterior segment is a safe and promising approach for repairing open globe injuries. Our results demonstrate the favorable prognostic benefit of this technique, which is recommended in cases with small corneal laceration and posterior segment pathology resulting from IOFB.