The Postoperative Results and the Risk Factors Between Removed and Retained Intraocular Foreign Bodies

PURPOSE: This study was designed to compare the results and prognosis between the two groups; the removed (group A) and retained (group B). The factors which affect the final vision were also studied. METHODS: 57 eyes of 57 patients (56 male, mean age 36.3 years old) who had been managed for intraocular foreign bodies were divided in two; Group A 39 eyes, Group B 18 eyes. To determine prognostic factors for visual outcomes, variables including age of patient, visual acuity at first examination, kind and size of foreign body, site of penetration, intraocular location, timing and number of surgical session, and complications were compared with final visual acuity. RESULTS: The average follow up period was 26.8 months. During these period, the mean number of surgical treatment was 2.32 +/- 1.14 per one eye for primary closure or management of complications and sequelae. The risk factors which affect the final vision were initial visual acuity (p=0.000), size (p=0.012), number of surgical session (p=0.021) and retinal detachment (p=0.001), while others including age, kind, entry site, location, surgical timing and endophthalmitis showed no significance. There are no significant difference of anatomical and functional outcome between Group A and B, and there are no significant determinants among prognostic factors affecting final visual acuity between Group A and B. CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic intraocular foreign bodies require early surgical removal and adequate management. However, our study suggests the final visual acuity correlates best with the extent of damage at the time of the initial injury, and the presence of an intraocualr foreign body doesn't affect the visual prognosis when compared to cases without a foreign body.

The Effects of Growth Factors on the Contractility of Muller Cells

PURPOSE: To assess the ability of retinal Muller cells that are to generate tractional forces during culture and to evaluate their responsiveness to contraction-stimulating growth factors. METHODS: After being dissociated from porcine retina, Muller cells were cultured, and identified by immunocytochemistry. The cells were applied to the collagen gel, and changes in the thickness of the collagen layer over time were measured. Then these values were used to estimate Muller cell's contractility indirectly. Each of the applications was classified by an initial cell population and added IGF-I and PDGF concentrations. RESULTS: The contraction rate of collagen at 24 hours into incubation differed significantly between the cell groups, with group 1 having a ratio of 5.08 +/- 0.81, group 2; 7.96 +/- 0.44, group 3; 21.46 +/- 0.86, and group 4; 28.36 +/- 1.64% (p=0.000). The contraction rate of the IGF-treated groups and the PDGF-treated groups are increased by their concentrations (P<0.05), and the contraction rate of the IGF-treated groups was higher than the PDGF-treated groups at all concentration (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As the cell number and concentration of growth factors were increased, the contractility of Muller cells was elevated. The development of neutralizing antibody to IGF-I and PDGF can be one of the ways for prevention of proliferative vitreoretinopathy clinically.