Purpose: The timing of vitrectomy for severe penetrating eye injury to the posterior segment remains controversial; this is particularly pertinent if patients are children and young adults. We present our results of the surgical procedure in young patients after penetrating eye injury using a delayed approach.
Methods: Noncomparative interventional study of patients up to 29 years of age who had vitreoretinal surgery for penetrating eye injury. Surgical procedure was performed in seven eyes of six patients. Posterior vitrectomy was performed because of hemophthalmos after waiting for a mean of 49 days (range, 17-90 days) after posterior vitreous detachment was confirmed on ultrasound examination.
Results: The mean postoperative follow-up period was 22 months (range, 9-35 months). Of the 7 patients, 6 (85.7%) achieved visual acuity (Snellen acuity) of 6/12 or better and 4 eyes (57.1%) reached 6/6. At the last follow-up, all patients were pseudophakic, 2 required secondary lens implants, and retinal detachment developed in 1 patient.
Conclusion: This consecutive case series underlines the fact that a delayed approach is compatible with good visual prognosis in relatively young patients.