Corneal metallic foreign bodies among Jordanian soldiers

Abstract EN

Objective : to review the spectrum of metallic foreign bodies among Jordanian soldiers and the efficacy of treatment.

Methods : A retrospective review was conducted at Prince Rashid Bin Al-Hassan Hospital between August 2011 and March 2012.

File and photographs review of 55 patients who attended the ophthalmology clinic and found to have corneal metallic foreign body were included in this study.

The following data were extracted and analyzed: age, gender, past ocular history, mechanism and time of injury and whether any eye protective measures were taken for those who were exposed to trauma during work, time to receive treatment, method of corneal foreign body removal, number of foreign bodies, location, depth of foreign body in the cornea, whether the eye was patched or not after removal of corneal foreign body, associated ocular injury, presence of Bell’s phenomenon, complications, and duration of absence from work.

Results : all patients were males and the age ranged between 17 and 55 years (mean 31.3 years).

Eighty-two percent of eye trauma occurred during work and all of them did not use any protective measure during their work activity.

The mid third of the cornea was involved in 39 % of patients followed by the paracentral zone in 27 %.

Corneal foreign bodies were removed by 27 gauge needle in 68 % of patients.

Eye patch was not used in 48 % of patients after removal of foreign body.

The most common associated finding was corneal rust in 63 % of cases.

Absence from work ranged between two to nine days.

Conclusion : corneal foreign bodies are potentially sight threatening that occurs mostly as a result of occupational accidents in male workers who do not comply with the use of eye protection.

Educational and safety programs and patient counselling on proper eye protection are essential and must be implemented in the work places to prevent serious eye injuries and work loss.