Blood-aqueous barrier deterioration following retained metallic corneal foreign body: A laser flare photometric study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study aims to use laser flare photometry to evaluate flare changes in patients following corneal damage from a metallic foreign body (FB). METHODS: Foreign body injured eyes and the healthy fellow eyes of 54 consecutive patients were studied in this comparative, observational, cross-sectional study. Flare levels were analyzed according to demographics, history of previous exposures, foreign body location, and foreign body penetration into the injured cornea. RESULTS: The mean flare value was significantly higher for the eyes with corneal foreign body injury compared to the fellow-control eyes (11.35±14.17 ph/ms and 6.30±3.81 ph/ms, respectively) (p=0.014). The mean flare values were significantly lower in eyes with a history of more than one previous corneal foreign body removal flare values than in other eyes (p=0.029). CONCLUSION: Flare is increased by corneal foreign body exposure. However, eyes that experience multiple previous corneal foreign body exposures may show relatively low flare, probably due to corneal desensitization.