For fear of endophthalmitis and siderosis, ferrous intraocular foreign bodies are usually removed as soon as they are discovered; markedly reduced, siderotic ERG changes are considered permanent. We report a patient who presented with a chronically retained intravitreal foreign body and significant clinical as well as electrophysiologic signs of siderosis. Only 3 months after surgery, the ERG showed almost complete recovery. If siderosis is not present, adequate and regular follow-up examinations may in certain cases substitute for immediate removal of chronically retained intraocular foreign bodies.
KnaveB.Electroretinography in eyes with retained intraocular metallic foreign bodies: a clinical study. Acta Ophthalmol1969; 100(Suppl): 1–63.
2.
DeclercqS.S., MeredithP.C.An electroretinographical evaluation of desferoxamine in experimental ocular siderosis: preliminary results. In: KoichiS., OosterhuisJ.A., eds. Ophthalmology. Proceedings of the XXIII International Congress, Kyoto, May 1978. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica, 1979.
