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

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

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors acknowledge the kind assistance of Dr. Adam Gyedu in reviewing the article.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. No financial support was received for this study. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.