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Case Report Open Access

Surgical removal of intravitreal glass foreign bodies using nephrolith and sialolith baskets

  • 1Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
  • 2Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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Corresponding Author

Neelakshi Bhagat, bhagatne@njms.rutgers.edu

Received Date: December 29, 2025

Accepted Date: January 19, 2026

Abstract

Purpose: To describe a case in which a large intraocular glass fragment was successfully retrieved using a basket device originally designed for kidney stone extraction.

Methods: Retrospective case report.

Case: A 17-year-old male presented four days after open globe repair following a motor vehicle accident with a large intravitreal glass fragment measuring 5 × 4 × 3.5 mm³. Surgical management included pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy. A four-prong nephrolithiasis basket was ultimately successful in retrieving the thick, smooth-surfaced glass fragment after conventional instruments failed to achieve extraction.

Conclusion: Removal of large, smooth intraocular glass or spherical plastic foreign bodies presents a significant surgical challenge. A kidney stone basket device may serve as an effective alternative for the removal of bulky foreign bodies that are too large or slippery to be securely grasped with conventional forceps.

Keywords

Glass, Intraocular foreign body, IOFB, Motor vehicle accident, Ocular trauma, Open globe, Kidney stone basket, Nephrolith, Salivary stone basket

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