A review of intraocular foreign body injuries and complications in N. Ireland from 1978-1986.

In a study of 95 patients with intraocular foreign body injuries presenting in the eight year period from 1978-1986 we found the overall visual results to be good with 62% of patients achieving a final visual acuity of 6/18 or better. The factors leading to a poor visual result were a large intraocular foreign body, poor presenting visual acuity and the presence of posterior vitreo-retinal complications. We support the removal of dense vitreous haemorrhage to reduce the risk of retinal traction.