Lack of toxicity of stainless steel retinal tacks during 21 years of follow-up

• Published in: Ophthalmic surgery, lasers & imaging Vol. 40; no. 1; p. 75
• Main Authors: Javey, Golnaz, Schwartz, Stephen G, Flynn, Jr, Harry W, Lee, William G, Parel, Jean-Marie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-01-2009
• Subjects: Adult; Eye Foreign Bodies - etiology; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Laser Coagulation; Male; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures - instrumentation; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures - methods; Retinal Detachment - surgery; Retinal Perforations - surgery; Stainless Steel - adverse effects; Visual Acuity - physiology; Vitrectomy
• ISSN: 1542-8877
• DOI: 10.3928/15428877-20090101-09

Retinal tacks were historically used in the repair of complex retinal detachment associated with giant retinal tear. The authors describe a patient with retinal detachment associated with giant retinal tear who was treated successfully with pars plana vitrectomy, use of stainless steel retinal tacks, endolaser photocoagulation, and gas-fluid exchange. Twenty-one years after treatment, the retina has remained attached, the tacks are in place, and best-corrected visual acuity is 20/30 in the operated eye. Although retinal tacks are no longer used, this case report suggests that intraocular stainless steel may cause minimal or no retinal toxicity during long-term follow-up.