Penetrating needle injury of the eye

This retrospective case series reviews the characteristics, complications and epidemiology of penetrating needle eye injury treated at a referral eye centre in Tehran, over 5 years. The medical records of 27 patients were evaluated. Mean age of patients was 17.41 +/- 18.69 years; 63% were less than 12 years old. Accident was the cause of 61.5% of injuries, and 55% of injuries Occurred at home. Endophthalmitis ensued in 22.2% and cataract in 51.9% of cases. Pars plana vitrectomy was performed for 25.9% of patients. There was no association between endophthalmitis and iris prolapse, zonal involvement, vitreous haemorrhage, traumatic cataract or Visual acuity >20/200 on admission, but endophthalmitis was associated with absence of hyphaema at presentation. Families and children should be educated about the dangers of needles. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.