Twenty-five year histopathologic review of enucleated post-traumatic eyeballs

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To determine the histopathology of enucleated post-traumatic eyeballs and the most frequent indicators for enucleation Methods: All eyeballs enucleated with a clinical diagnosis of ocular injury were reviewed. The study period was from 1971 to 1996 Results: There were 198 eyeballs studied. Males were three times more involved than females. The most affected age group belonged to the third decade of life. Eyeball rupture with expulsive hemorrhage and loss of intraocular contents accounted for the most common indication for immediate enucleation. Endophthalmitis and panophthalmitis were the next common indications for early enucleation. The rest of the eyeballs were enucleated from 3 months to 43 years after injury. Histopathology revealed the presence of staphyloma, atropia bulbi, pthisis bulbi and glaucoma. Synechiae, cataract and keratitis were the outstanding features of the anterior segment pathology. Retinal detachment, choroidal hemorrhage and detachment were the most significant findings in the posterior segment Conclusions: The major indications from early enucleation in ocular trauma are eyeball rupture with expulsive hemorrhage and infectious processes. Staphyloma, pthisis bulbi and glaucoma may develop in later years leading to enucleation.