Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors of Patients with Intraocular Foreign Bodies from a Tertiary Eye Center in North China.

Background: This study aims to describe the epidemiology and clinical features of patients with intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) and analyze the prognostic factors influencing final vision.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with IOFBs admitted to Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2021. Inclusion criteria involved complete clinical data details of patients diagnosed with intraocular foreign bodies in our hospital who were treated with concurrent surgery and based on IOFB position and characteristics, different surgical methods were employed. The minimum follow-up duration was 6 months. Exclusion criteria were foreign bodies retained in the orbit, organ failure, surgical contraindications, coagulation abnormalities, autoimmune diseases, history of ocular surgery, and ocular space-occupying lesions. Based on IOFB position and characteristics, different surgical methods were employed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to predict independent factors influencing final visual acuity after IOFBs.

Results: This study analyzed 159 patients (159 eyes) with IOFBs. Based on discharge and follow-up results, IOFB removal was performed through pars plana incision in 105 (67.9%) eyes, corneoscleral limbus incision in 24 (15.1%) eyes, and original wound in 27 (17.0%) eyes. Of these, 44 eyes underwent IOFB removal without vitrectomy, while 55 (34.6%) eyes were treated with silicone oil. Post-vitrectomy, three cases showed secondary macular membrane, five cases exhibited retinal detachment, and enucleation was necessary in three cases. The final best corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMAR) was 1.06 ±0.88, significantly better than preoperative visual acuity of 1.65 ±0.87 (t = 8.21, p < 0.01). Multi-factor logistic regression analysis revealed that the length of corneal/scleral wound (OR=0.6 P < 0.05), maximum size of IOFB (OR=0.585 P < 0.05), initial presenting VA (OR=0.900 P < 0.05), and macular lesions(OR=0.400 P < 0.05) were risk factors for postoperative vision prognosis after intraocular foreign body surgery.

Conclusion: In a tertiary eye center in northern China, IOFBs predominantly affected the working-age group, particularly males. Factors such as wound length, IOFB size, initial presenting VA, and macular lesions might impact the final visual outcome.