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Successful management of open-globe injuries in soldiers suggests no disadvantage to delayed surgery
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KOLOA, Hawaii — Recent experience in the management of soldiers with open-globe injuries suggests no disadvantage to delaying surgical repair, according to a speaker here.
Largely due to logistics, many Iraq war soldiers had delayed repair of an open-globe injury involving the posterior segment, some as long as 4 weeks, and still had successful outcomes, William F. Mieler, MD, said at Retina 2010. However, he added, there is a dearth of data on surgical timing in the published literature and each patient is different, so whether to delay surgery is still discretionary.
"This is my own bias, but there may be some benefit to waiting and allowing the eye to quiet down before repairing it," Dr. Mieler said.
The Iraq war experience also speaks to the feasibility of staged vs. single surgery for the repair of open-globe injuries involving the posterior segment, Dr. Mieler said.
Hawaiian Eye and Retina 2011 will be held January 16-21, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa in Ka'anapali, Maui. Learn more at OSNHawaiianEye.com.