Perfluorocarbon liquid-assisted intraocular foreign body removal

Abstract

Traumatic ocular injury is an uncommon yet leading cause of monocular blindness among the working-age group. Retained intraocular foreign body (IOFB) are associated with 41% of open globe injuries. Pars plana vitrectomy is often required for posterior segment IOFB removal. Advances in vitreoretinal surgical techniques and instrumentation have resulted in better treatment outcomes with reduced ocular morbidity. We report a case of modified ILM forceps with perfluorocarbon liquid-assisted non-magnetic IOFB removal in a young man after a motor vehicle accident with zone one open globe injury and a large glass IOFB in the right eye. We describe the use of perfluoro-N-octane to slide the IOFB extramacularly and reorient the IOFB plane for stable and safe retrieval by ILM end-gripping forceps. The modified design of the ILM end-gripping forceps with adjunctive use of perfluorocarbon liquid in pars plana vitrectomy reduces slippage during IOFB extraction and prevents collateral iatrogenic retinal injury.