AIM: To investigate the etiology, classification and different treatments for chestnut thorn foreign bodies in corneal.

METHODS: Totally 56 cases with chestnut thorn foreign bodies in corneal were studied retrospectively, and we analyzed how long foreign bodies had been in the eyes and where they lay, the visual acuity and etc. Different operative treatments and operation effects were also analyzed.

RESULTS: Males were more than females in patients. Most patients were less than 50 years old. No composite traumatic cataract was found. 82% patients were removed by the slit-lamp in outpatient department, 18% patients were removed the foreign bodies under operating microscope in inpatient department. Visual acuity after treating was better than that before treating. There are significant difference in both groups(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Chestnut thorn foreign bodies in corneal were variable. It could to improve the therapeutic effect and reduce the cost of medical care that different foreign body types use different method.