Removal of intraocular foreign body in anterior chamber angle with prism contact lens and 23-gauge foreign body forceps

AIM: To introduce a novel approach in removal of anterior chamber angle foreign body (ACFB) using a prism contact lens and 23-gauge foreign body forceps. METHODS: Data of 42 eyes of 42 patients who had undergone removal of ACFB using a prism contact lens and 23-gauge foreign body forceps from January 2008 to October 2013 were collected and analyzed. Twenty eyes in group A received the conventional approach by using toothed forceps through corneal limbus incision, and 22 eyes in group B underwent the novel method through the opposite corneal limbus incision. RESULTS: The success rate of ACFB once removal was 75% (15/20) in group A, and 100% (22/22) in group B. The average operation time of group A was significantly longer compared with group B (34.9±9.88min vs 22.13±8.85min; P<0.05). The average size of corneal limbus incision in group A was significantly larger than that of group B (4.85±1.89 mm vs 3.95±1.17 mm; P<0.05). The corneal limbus incision suturing were conducted in all eyes in group A, and only 5 eyes in group B. CONCLUSION: Removal of ACFB using a prism contact lens and 23-gauge foreign body forceps is a safer, more effective, and convenient technique compared with the conventional approach.