gms | German Medical Science

Background: To demonstrate a procedure, how to extract magnetic intraocular foreign bodies in the posterior segment by minimizing the risk for retinal damage and detachment.

Method: The video is introduced by a presentation, how magnetic foreign bodies were removed out of the globe using traditional methods with external and internal magnets. Later on advances in microsurgical vitrectomy techniques with direct visualization of the foreign body during removal rendered it possible to grasp and extract the foreign body with special designed micro-forceps. This video demonstrates the case of a magnetic intraocular foreign body, embedded in the retina after hammering a chisel (metal on metal). In the first step cryotherapy of the impact site was performed to create retinal adhesion.

Result: One week after the injury the foreign body was removed by use of a special designed Reimann-Forceps. This combination of a foreign body forceps with a permanent magnet installed inside, which can move along the central axis, makes it possible to remove a foreign body from the retina with exceptionally low risk. The foreign body does not have to be transferred to a second instrument but can be removed safely through a pars plana sclera tunnel not wider than the fragment.

Conclusion: The combination of a retractable permanent magnet inside a foreign body forceps is a real improvement in the procedure for intraocular removal of magnetizable metal fragments.

Financial interests of the author are disclosed.