An Asymptomatic Metallic Foreign Body Retained in the Subconjunctival Space for over 50 Years: A Rare Case Report

Failure to promptly remove an ocular foreign body, particularly a metallic fragment, is often associated with the development of inflammation, infection, or granuloma formation. However, this report presents a rare case of a metallic foreign body that remained within the subconjunctival space for over 50 years without significant ocular complications.

An 80-year-old woman presented with a complaint of blurred vision in both eyes. In slit-lamp examination, the cataract bilaterally and incidentally revealed the presence of a tiny black foreign body within the subconjunctival space in the left eye. No further abnormal findings were observed in the fundus and extraocular components in both eyes. After inquiring about the patient's history of trauma, it was revealed that over 50 years ago, the patient experienced an ocular injury from a shard of iron while working at a factory. Given the impending cataract surgery and associated risks, the subconjunctival foreign body was removed under topical anesthesia in the operating room and identified as a magnetic metal fragment. At the 1-month follow-up, the patient had fully recovered from the incision site, with no observed adverse effects.

In this case, there appear to be no severe consequences associated with the long-term retention of a subconjunctival metallic foreign body. Nonetheless, it is imperative to conduct meticulous patient evaluations and interventions to mitigate the potential risk of injury.