Open – globe injury due to metallic foreign body: a case report

Ocular injuries are a major cause of a permanent visual loss and blindness. Ocular trauma encompasses
injuries affecting the eye and its surrounding structures, ranging from superficial abrasions to severe damage that
may result in blindness.
Penetrating injuries can result in palpebral lacerations, intraocular hemorrhage, retained foreign objects, or retinal
detachment.
The degree of vision impairment caused by such injuries varies based on multiple factors, including the nature and
severity of the trauma, the timeliness of medical care, and the success of the treatment provided.
Ocular trauma remains one of the major causes of preventable blindness in the developing world, highlighting the
importance of timely surgical intervention when necessary.
The injuries most frequently are occurring at actively working people. Wood, sharp object and glass are the most
common objects of penetrating ocular trauma.
Patient with ocular trauma should always be initially examined to rule out any other possible life threatening injury.
An accurate history is necessary, from the patient, relatives, or any other witness of the incident.
The place of the injury is important, as it can give information for possible microbiological contamination in
conditions of unhygienic surrounding.
History of immunization especially for tetanus should be noted.
Careful slit lamp examination should be done in order to see the type and the location of the injury, as well as
severity of the ocular structures involvement.
Hemorrhagic chemosis indicates the possibility of orbital fracture and/or open globe trauma . In those cases it is
necessary other neuro - radiological imaging to be done.
In this paper we present a case of traumatic ocular penetration in a young male at work, that involved both anterior
sclera and cornea, the treatment we performed and definite outcome.