Late complications from posterior segment intraocular foreign bodies with particular reference to retinal detachment.

During the first half of the 20th century there was a strong controversy over the route for removal of an intraocular foreign body (IOFB) lying in the posterior segment of the eye. In the early years the anterior route was substantially the method of choice (Barkan and Barkan, 1927; Verhoeff, 1932; Duggan, I933; Trevor-Roper, i944; and others). The posterior route had been advocated by Stieren (I932) since i902, and gradually with control of infection and inflammation, the pendulum swung until this became substantially the method of choice (Roper-Hall, I954; Rubinstein, 1954; and others). It is not the intention now to consider arguments of the past, but rather to consider the method of posterior route removal in the light of ensuing complications, and to discuss certain factors relating to the complication of retinal detachment.