Intraocular metallic foreign bodies following cataract extraction; report of seven cases

This report describes retained intraocular metallic foreign bodies found in seven eyes after cataract extraction at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary. The first case was seen in October, 1953, when a golden-colored, metallic-like foreign body was noted deep in the healed corneal wound of a patient who had had cataract surgery one month previously. The following month a similar foreign body was noted lying on the iris in another eye that had persistent, unexplained iritis following an uncomplicated lens extraction. In the following months five additional eyes which had recently been operated on were found to contain similar foreign bodies. In every case a gold-plated Bell erisophake had been used during the operation. These findings stimulated an investigation of our instruments, which revealed that every gold-plated erisophake used at this institution had a roughened surface, as seen on examination with the naked eye. On examination under high magnification