Evaluation of the use of blind disfiguring eye as a natural implant for artificial eyes

• Main Author: Mohammed Iqbal Hafez
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015-01-01
• Series: Delta Journal of Ophthalmology
• Subjects: artificial eyes; cosmesis; disfiguring eye; implants; patient satisfaction; rpstc
• Online Access: http://www.djo.eg.net/article.asp?issn=1110-9173;year=2015;volume=16;issue=1;spage=37;epage=41;aulast=Hafez
• ISSN: 1110-9173; 2090-4835

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of the blind disfiguring eye as a natural implant for artificial eyes instead of evisceration or enucleation with synthetic implants. Patients and methods Ten eyes, which were painless and blind with disfiguring appearance, were included in this study. All eyes were subjected to a new simple surgical technique by simply converting the eye into a natural implant. The main outcome measure was the cosmetic appearance, patient satisfaction, and psychological impact. All patients were followed up at 1 and 2 weeks and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Results Ten eyes of 10 patients were included in this study with a male-to-female ratio of 1 : 4. Two (20%) eyes developed lid edema and ecchymosis, one (10%) eye complicated with conjunctival hematoma, and another eye (10%) had postoperative shallow fornices. Seven (70%) patients had good postoperative cosmetic appearance with good prosthesis motility and patient satisfaction. Two (20%) patients were not satisfied, as they had poor cosmetic appearance with restricted prosthesis motility. One (10%) patient had failed surgery. Conclusion The use of the painless blind disfiguring eye as a natural implant for artificial eye proved to be an efficient and cheap procedure with excellent cosmesis. Great patient satisfaction was noted as regards the prosthesis movements and final new look.