Ischemic Retinopathy Due to Suspicious Gentamicin Retinal Toxicity after Primary Repair of Scleral Laceration

PURPOSE: To report a case of ischemic retinopathy due to suspicious gentamicin retinal toxicity after primary repair of a scleral laceration. CASE SUMMARY: A 45-year-old man presented to our department with decreasing vision in his right eye after ocular trauma. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.02 in the right eye and slit lamp examination revealed scleral laceration. Both intravenous and topical antibiotics (10% cefazolin and 2% gentamicin) were immediately administered. On intraoperative examination, a scleral laceration located 5 mm to 11 mm from nasal limbus, prolapsed vitreous body and partial division of medial rectus muscle were observed. After irrigation with gentamincin 0.2% around the wound, primary repair was performed. On postoperative day 3, fundus examination revealed a retinal break, barrier laser was performed. On postoperative day 4, diffuse retinal edema with intraretinal hemorrhage was observed as well as, superonasal ghost vessels. Subsequently, fluorescein angiography showed diffuse leakage of retinal vessels and a nonperfusion area at the periphery, especially on the nasal side. As vitreous opacity became worse, the patient underwent pars plana vitrectomy with endolaser. One month later, vitreous cavity was clearer and best visual acuity was 0.2. CONCLUSIONS: Large doses of intraocular gentamicin ccan cause retinal toxicity. Increased gentamicin application through a scleral laceration may lead to toxic antibiotic levels. When a scleral laceration wound irrigation is performed, precautions are necessary to prevent retinal ischemia associated with gentamicin toxicity.

Characteristics and Prognostic Factors of Open-Globe Injuries in Korea

PURPOSE: To characterize epidemiologically open-globe injuries and to identify prognostic factors for visual outcomes after open-globe injuries in Korea. METHODS: The medical records of 138 patients with open-globe injuries presenting to the Severance Hospital between January 2005 and June 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Out of 138 patients, 85.5% were men. The types of injury included penetrating injury (44.2%), intraocular foreign body (15.9%), blunt injury (35.5%), and perforating injury (3.6%). The most common cause of injury was accidents at work (49.3%) and 60.9% of these injuries were a penetrating wound in zone I limited to the cornea. Predictors of poor visual outcome using univariate analysis included wound extended to posterior sclera, wound length of 10 mm or more, poor initial visual acuity of hand motion or less, and presence of associated ocular injuries at presentation including hyphema, lens injury, vitreous hemorrhage, and retinal detachment. Initial visual acuity and wound size were independent prognostic factors of visual outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Accidents at work are the most important cause of open-globe injuries in Korea. Accordingly, protective measures such as appropriate eyewear and safety education at work are warranted. Initial visual acuity and wound size predicted favorable visual outcome.