Syrian Civil-War-Related Intraocular Foreign Body Injuries: A Four-Year Retrospective Analysis

Semin Ophthalmol. 2017;32(5):625-630. doi: 10.3109/08820538.2016.1142578. Epub 2016 Jul 1.

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the data of patients who underwent vitreoretinal surgery due to intraocular foreign body (IOFB) injuries that occurred in the Syrian civil war.

Methods: Seventy-eight eyes of 78 patients who underwent vitreoretinal surgery due to IOFB injuries that occurred during the Syrian civil war were analyzed.

Results: Forty-four eyes (56.4%) had traumatic cataract, 44 (56.4%) had retinal tears, 42 (53.8%) had vitreous hemorrhage, 18 (23%) had retinal detachment, 12 (15.3%) had endophthalmitis, and eight eyes had hyphema (10.2%). IOFBs consisted of metal in 62 eyes (79.4%), stone in eight eyes (10.2%), organic material in four eyes (5.1%), and glass in four eyes (5.1%). Approximately 86% of the eyes had initial VAs of 4/200 or worse. However, VAs improved in 64 eyes (82%) after the surgeries.

Conclusions: Despite delays in treatment and the severity of injuries, 82% (64/78) of the eyes had an improvement in VA after the surgeries.

Keywords: Retina; surgery; trauma; vision; vitreous.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Endophthalmitis / etiology
  • Eye Foreign Bodies / complications
  • Eye Foreign Bodies / physiopathology
  • Eye Foreign Bodies / surgery*
  • Eye Injuries, Penetrating / complications
  • Eye Injuries, Penetrating / physiopathology
  • Eye Injuries, Penetrating / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retinal Detachment / etiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Syria
  • Visual Acuity / physiology
  • Vitreous Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Warfare*
  • Young Adult