Based on the histopathological observation of the perforated eyes in 74 cases, it is suggested that, according to the severity of the trauma, perforating eye injuries may be classified into 3 degrees. Those having enucleation done within 1 week after injury were all severe cases; none of them developed sympathetic ophthalmia. The eyes with less and moderate degree of injuries were enucleated mainly duo to secondary complications. Among the eyeballs examinedlater than 2 weeks after injury, intraocular fibropla-sia was found in 49 cases (92%), ciliary membranes in 34 cases (64%), epiretinal membranes in 23 cases (43%), and retinal detachment in 47 cases (89%). Contractive tissues were found in 19 cases with retinal detachment. Cellular proliferation was originated from the wound as well as the intraocular cell elements such as the ciliary epithelium.The following factors might stimulate the proliferation, e.g. incarceration of tissue in the wound, failing of the epithelium to cover the inner surface of the wound, inflammation and intraocular hemorrhage. Therefore, it is important to close the wound as early as possible and to remove blood and inflamed tissue with vitrectomy within 2 weeks after injury.

Vitrectomy is helpful in the management of ocular trauma,but prolonged inflammation following vitrec tomy may be associated with a high incidence of traction retinal detachment. To test this hypothesis! ma-crophages.the main cellular component of vitreous inflammation,were injected into the vitreous cavity of rabbit eyes following vitrectorny. Fibrovascular proliferation over the medullary rays and optic disc and traction retinal detachment occurred in 13 of 15 vitrectomized eyes injected with macrophages,while in only three of 15 vitrectomized eyes injected with culture medium (controls). These results demonstrate that macrophages are capable of stimulating intraocular cellular proliferation. It is therefore suggested that anti-inflammation drugs and minimization of surgical intervention may improve the prognosis following vitrectomy.