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Classification of metalloses
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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With prolonged presence of a chemically active foreign body in the membranes and fluids of the eyeball, a complex of similar dystrophic changes occurs, the presence of which is of decisive importance in determining the treatment tactics for the consequences of this type of eye injury.
In the classification of metalloses, four main stages of the pathological process are distinguished.
- Stage I (latent period) - there are no clinical changes in the eye characteristic of siderosis and alkalosis, there are no dystrophic changes, visual acuity is up to 1.0, the visual field is normal. There are no changes characteristic of metallosis; there are foreign bodies, a corneal scar, a hole in the iris, traumatic cataract, minor changes in the vitreous body (traumatic in nature), revealed in the light of a slit lamp.
- Stage II - initial metallosis - mild initial changes in one or both eye membranes, visual acuity up to 1.0, normal visual field. This stage is characterized by dust-like deposits on the iris, small and isolated pigment deposits on the anterior capsule of the lens, slight pigmentation on the posterior surface of the cornea, changes in the iridocorneal angle in the form of weak endogenous pigmentation of the Schlemm's canal, mild changes in the vitreous body detected by biomicroscopy in the form of initial granular or filamentous destruction, initial changes in the retina, a slight decrease in electrical sensitivity, lability,
- Stage III - developed metallosis of the eye - pronounced degenerative changes in two or three membranes of the eyeball, visual acuity decreases to 0.5-0.6. The field of vision is narrowed by 10°.
There are marked changes in the anterior part of the eye (cornea, iris, lens) and retina. Changes in the color of the iris and pigment deposition on the anterior capsule of the lens not in the form of separate lumps, but already in the form of sidereal or chalcotic cataract; changes in the iris and lens, or lens and vitreous body, or lens and retina. In the vitreous body - degenerative changes in the form of cotton-like opacities, flakes, developed retinal metallosis.
- Stage IV - advanced metallosis of the eye - gross, pronounced degenerative changes in all membranes and fluids of the eyeball, decreased lability and sensitivity, visual acuity is reduced to light perception - 0.1, the field of vision is narrowed to 10 ° or more or is absent. Abundant diffuse deposition of pigment in the iris, opacities of the lens. At this stage of the process, such severe complications are noted that develop with a long-term presence of a chemically active foreign body in the eye, such as increased intraocular pressure, detachment of the vitreous body and retina.
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