A case of intralenticular foreign iron body without any symptoms for 20 years

BACKGROUND: After penetrating injury an intralenticular foreign body is usually associated with complications such as traumatic cataracts, uveitis, and glaucoma. Under rare conditions, however, a foreign body may remain in the eye without any complications for many years. There have been few reports of persisting intralenticular foreign bodies in Japan, and no report of an intralenticular body of iron which was retained for more than 6 months. We report a case of intralenticular foreign iron body that stayed without any symptoms for 20 years. CASE REPORT: A 65-year-old male with an episode of ocular pain in his right eye 20 years ago presented with blurred vision in the right eye. Slit lamp examination revealed cataract and a intralenticular foreign body in the right eye. Despite the presence of a black foreign body in the middle of the nucleus, damage to the anterior capsule was minimal. He was successfully treated by surgical removal of the foreign body, phacoemulsification, and intraocular lens implantation. In vitro analysis demonstrated that the foreign body was oxidized Fe. CONCLUSION: A foreign body may remain dormant in the crystalline lens for many years depending on the conditions. We reported a patient with an intralenticular foreign iron body without symptoms for 20 years, who was successfully treated with lens surgery.