Intraocular Foreign Body of a Vitreous Cutter Tip Fragment

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report a case of intraocular foreign body of a vitreous cutter tip fragment. CASE SUMMARY: A 60-year-old women was referred by her ophthalmologist with a two-day history of visual disturbance in her right eye. She had undergone pars plana vitrectomy, barrier laser and C3F8 gas injection due to pseudophakic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in our retinal service center four months previously. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy of her right eye showed cornea stromal edema with Descemet membrane folding. Gonioscopic examination revealed a metallic foreign body in the direction of the 6-o'clock anterior chamber angle. Anterior chamber irrigation with successful removal of the metallic foreign body using intraocular foreign body forceps was performed. The removed intraocular foreign body was a vitrectomy cutter tip fragment 20 gauge in size and 3 mm in length. After surgery, the corneal stromal edema disappeared and her visual acuity in the right eye recovered. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative breakage of vitreous cutter tips can occur and cause toxic ocular tissue reaction. Care should be taken against vitreous cutter tip breakage during vitrectomy.