Clinical Results of Primary Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lens Insertion in the Setting of Penetrating Ocular Trauma: whether PCL insertion or not

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcome of patients who underwent a lensectomy and IOL implantation at the time of the primary repair due to a penetrating ocular injury. METHODS: We analyzed the records of 25 eyes of 25 perforating injury patients[Group A (13 eyes)-who had undergone simultaneous corneal laceration repair, cataract extraction and IOL implantation, and Group B (12 eyes)-who had undergone corneal laceration repair, cataract extraction and had their refractive error corrected by contact lens or glasses later]. retrospectively from March, 1991 to June,1999. We examined the relationship between their final visual acuity and the influencing factors such as cause of injury, length and feature of the lacerated cornea, initial visual acuity and postoperative complications, etc. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 36.8 and 25.7 years in group A and B, respectively. The major cause of injury was a metallic foreign body. In group A, the wound is relatively short and has a linear shape. In group B, it is a nearly curved line. An anterior vitrectomy was done in 6 patients in both groups, respectively. Nine patients (69%) achieved a final visual acuity of 10/20 or better in group A and only four patients (33%) in group B. The postoperative complications were transient elevation of IOP (1 eye) and corneal ulcer (1 eye) in group A, and vitreous opacity (1 eye) and retinal detachment (1 eye) in group B. CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended for visual rehabilitation and attainment of binocular visual function to implant the IOL at the time of primary repair caused by a penetrating ocular injury.