Anterior segment optical coherence tomography characteristics and management of a unique spectrum of foreign bodies in the cornea and anterior chamber

Removal of an anterior chamber foreign body using hydropulsion and ophthalmic viscoelastic device capture in a dog

OBJECTIVE

To describe the removal of an adherent, presumed plant-based, anterior chamber foreign body (ACFB) from the inferior iridocorneal angle in a dog using hydropulsion and ophthalmic viscoelastic device (OVD) capture.

ANIMAL STUDIED

A 6-year-old female spayed pit bull terrier who was referred for further evaluation of a corneal opacity after being observed running into a thorned succulent plant 1 month earlier. On ophthalmic examination, no corneal foreign body was noted, though mild uveitis was present. Gonioscopy revealed a suspected plant foreign body (thorn tip) in the inferior iridocorneal angle.

PROCEDURE

Under general anesthesia, the ACFB was dislodged from the inferior iridocorneal angle using hydropulsion with balanced salt solution. The superior half of the anterior chamber had been filled with 2% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose OVD to trap the foreign object. One month later, the uveitis had resolved and repeat gonioscopy confirmed the absence of any ACFB in the iridocorneal angle.

CONCLUSION

In the absence of an intraoperative goniolens or endoscopy, hydropulsion and OVD capture of adherent ACFBs may be a feasible option for removal.

Corneal foreign body post laser in-situ keratomileusis: Diagnosis, management, outcome and review of literature

Purpose

To report a case of metallic corneal foreign-body (CFB) penetrating the Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap and its successful outcome. To highlight usefulness of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (ASOCT) in diagnosis and management of post-LASIK CFB. To enumerate other similar cases published in literature.

Method

A 30-year-old male presented to the emergency department of a tertiary eye care centre with a metallic CFB. He had undergone uneventful LASIK elsewhere 4-years back. He was unaware of any trauma. CFB removal was attempted elsewhere but abandoned as CFB appeared deeply embedded. ASOCT showed CFB had penetrated LASIK flap and lodged into midstroma, 207 μm deep. CFB was successfully removed in operation theatre along with the application of cyanoacrylate glue and bandage contact lens. A review of literature for CFB in post-LASIK patients was done through PubMed search.

Result

Postoperative course was uncomplicated and there was a follow up period of 4 months. Vision improved to unaided 20/20 and N/6 from preoperative 20/60 and N/10. Review of literature of 24 patients showed Post-LASIK FB was more common in males (79%). None of the patients except for one had protective eye-wear. Metallic FB was most common followed by organic FB. Flap complications were present in seven patients. Diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) and epithelial ingrowth were the most common post-FB removal complications occurring in six (25%) and four (16.6%) patients respectively.

Conclusion

Post-LASIK patients with CFB need to be inspected for flap related complications. CFB can be successfully removed, although DLK, epithelial ingrowth, microbial keratitis, astigmatism, can occur post-CFB removal. ASOCT can delineate CFB and flap related details and thus is an additional useful imaging tool in such scenarios.

Retrieval of deep corneal stromal wooden foreign body using vitreoretinal foreign body forceps as scoop: An innovative technique

A 55-year-old woman presented with a stromal wooden foreign body (FB) in the left cornea. The deep corneal stroma wooden FB was removed using vitreoretinal FB forceps as a scoop. In this innovative technique, a 26-gauge needle was used to open the track of the wooden FB. The FB was trapped in the concavity of one limb of the vitreoretinal FB forceps. The vitreoretinal forceps were gradually withdrawn and the FB was removed. The patient was treated with gatifloxacin and voriconazole six times, and atropine 1% three times daily. The patient did not develop infiltrate or hypopyon in 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, gatifloxacin and voriconazole were reduced to four times a day; and atropine to two times a day. After 6 weeks topical medication was stopped. The patient achieved a best-corrected visual acuity (OS) of 6/9 at 8 weeks and maintained it through 7 months of follow-up.