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AIM To determine whether evisceration with optic nerve disinsertion and nonporous implant placement increases the risk of implant migration. METHODS This was a single-center, retrospective consecutive comparative interventional case series including patients undergoing evisceration with nonporous implant between January and December 2014. Patients were grouped into 2 groups: group I where the optic nerve was not disinserted (n = 37) and group II with optic nerve disinsertion (n = 50). Implant migration was assessed clinically and on patient photographs. Migration was subclassified as decentration that did not affect the prosthetic outcome and displacement that affected the prosthetic outcome. The secondary outcome measures were the mean implant diameter, volume of the custom ocular prosthesis, and implant-related complications like exposure and extrusion between the 2 groups. RESULTS At a mean follow up of 12.5 months, none of the sockets in group I and 3 (6%) sockets in group II (p = 0.35) had evidence of implant decentration. There were no cases of implant displacement in both groups. The mean implant diameter in group I was 16.97 mm ± 0.65 mm and in group II 19.2 mm ± 0.83 mm (p = 0.0001). Implant extrusion was not different between the 2 groups. The mean custom ocular prosthesis volume in group I was 3.86 ml ± 0.52 ml and in group II 2.50 ml ± 0.68 ml (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS The rate of nonporous implant migration due to optic nerve disinsertion is not statistically or clinically significant in evisceration with optic nerve disinsertion, allowing placement of a larger implant and fabrication of a custom ocular prosthesis with an ideal weight.

Buphthalmos can create treatment challenges for socket rehabilitation following enucleation due to compression atrophy and mechanical stretching of adnexal tissues. The authors report a case demonstrating a surgical technique for simultaneous volume augmentation of the anophthalmic socket, expansion of the conjunctival fornix, and repair of lower eyelid retraction in a patient with history of buphthalmos and a previously placed 22 mm orbital implant at the time of enucleation. The authors utilized a single-stage, bipedicle dermis fat graft. Postoperatively, the patient demonstrated improvement in lower eyelid position, lower eyelid volume, improved prosthesis fit, improved three-dimensional projection of the ocular prosthesis, and an improvement in the superior sulcus deformity. Bipedicle dermis fat grafts are an option for surgical rehabilitation of the anophthalmic socket when orbital volume deficiency, conjunctival fornix contracture, and eyelid retraction are present and an adequately sized orbital implant has previously been placed.

Microphthalmia is defined by a globe axial length greater than or equal to 2 standard deviations below the age-adjusted mean and can occur as part of a broader syndrome. The presence of a colobomatous cyst with microphthalmia signifies failure of the embryonic neuroectodermal fissure to close appropriately during development of the globe, creating a protuberant globular appendage that inhibits normal growth and development of the eye itself. Cystic reaccumulation of fluid is common after aspiration or surgical removal. Here, the authors describe a case of a young boy with a colobomatous cyst who underwent eyelid-sparing orbital exenteration followed by reconstruction with absorbable gelatin sponge (Gelfoam, Pfizer, Inc.) and the chemotherapeutic agent bleomycin to promote scarring, achieving the equivalent of a biointegrated implant and facilitating satisfactory placement of an ocular prosthesis. A 2-year follow-up MRI revealed adequate volume in the posterior orbit.

Purpose To determine the effect of ptosis on compensatory frontalis contraction in patients without visual input and to identify if a sensory stimulus contributes to brow elevation. Methods A prospective study. Clinical photographs were measured by 2 masked oculoplastic surgeons to determine brow height in 8 patients with unilateral ocular prosthesis in 3 conditions: at baseline, after a gold weight was applied to the upper eyelid inducing acute ptosis, and with the gold weight plus topical anesthetic. The measured brow height was then compared between the 3 scenarios. Results Mean brow height increased after application of the gold weight when compared with baseline, and this difference reached significance (p = 0.012). After topical anesthetic was applied, the mean brow height decreased but not back to baseline. When mean brow height during the gold weight with topical anesthesia was compared with baseline and with the gold weight only scenarios, the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions Frontalis contraction is observed when acute ptosis is simulated in anophthalmic patients, confirming that a contracted visual field cannot be the only stimulus for compensatory brow elevation. A sensory or proprioceptive mechanism is suggested but not confirmed by the trend of reduction in brow elevation with topical anesthesia.

A 55-year-old man presented with progressive "enophthalmos" of his ocular prosthesis, 12 years after secondary orbital implant placement following evisceration of a severe traumatic globe rupture. The medial orbital wall was found to be displaced inwards, associated with ethmoid sinus opacification, and consistent with post traumatic silent sinus syndrome affecting the ethmoid paranasal sinuses. The authors present the clinical and radiological findings, review the literature on silent sinus syndrome of nonmaxillary sinuses, and discuss the possible mechanisms for his presentation.

PURPOSE In daily practice, it is often encountered that family and friends prefer the true image of the patient with an ocular prosthesis to the image in the mirror. Hence, when the patient looks at himself in the mirror, he may have the worst image of self. The authors studied the subjective difference between the mirror and true image of patients with an ocular prosthesis. METHODS Controlled, prospective case series, including 16 patients with an ocular prosthesis and 16 healthy volunteers. The authors designed a double-mirror device that allowed the participant to see both his mirror and unreversed true image and asked the participants which image they preferred. In a slide show with pairs of the original and mirror-reversed photographs of the participants, they were asked which of the 2 photographs of each pair they preferred, of themselves and of the other participants. RESULTS Of the patients, 100% preferred their mirror image and 79% their mirror-reversed photograph. Of the volunteers, these preferences were 81% and 60%, respectively. The volunteers significantly preferred the photograph of the patients with the ocular prosthesis on their left side. CONCLUSIONS The patient with an ocular prosthesis prefers his mirror image. While judging unfamiliar faces, the right eye is considered to be more important in the case of abnormality.

PURPOSE To describe the clinical features and management of extensive ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) (squamous cell carcinoma) of the socket. METHODS Retrospective interventional case series. Interferon α 2b (IFNa2b) eye drops (1 million units/cc) 4 times daily and IFNa2b sublesional injection (5 million units/0.5cc to 8 million units/0.8 cc) were delivered for tumor control. Participants were 3 patients with ocular prosthesis who developed extensive socket OSSN. Tumor control was graded as complete regression, partial regression, or no regression. RESULTS OSSN was detected in the socket at age 60, 43, and 20 years in patients who had worn ophthalmic prostheses for 54, 26, and 13 years, respectively. The patients had chronic discharge and irritation (n = 3) managed with intermittent topical corticosteroids (n = 2). There were no predisposing factors of cigarette exposure, radiation exposure, eczema, systemic immune suppression, or organ transplantation. The prosthesis fit well with nonirritative edges. At presentation, OSSN was subtle (n = 3), vascular (n = 3), and multifocal (n = 3), with largest lesions or confluence of lesions measuring 20, 25, and 20 mm, respectively. The tumors involved the tarsal (n = 3), bulbar (n = 2), and forniceal (n = 2) surfaces. All patients were treated with topical and injection IFNa2b, with complete regression achieved in 2 cases (at 1 months and 20 months) and partial regression in one case (at 9 months). All patients continue on chronic maintenance IFNa2b topically. There were no recurrences, and IFNa2b injection side effects of nausea and chills were minor, lasting 1 day. No patient required surgical removal of tumors from the socket and no patient required exenteration. CONCLUSIONS Patients wearing ophthalmic prosthesis over a socket should be monitored for the development of OSSN. Combined topical and injection IFNa2b could represent a potentially effective therapy for this condition.

Purpose: To describe 2 patients in whom squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva developed in the anophthalmic socket more than 44 years after enucleation and chronic use of an ocular prosthesis. Methods: Retrospective case reports. Results: These 2 patients did not have known risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma, including solar ultraviolet radiation or exposure (since they wore their prosthesis full-time), HIV infection, chronic orbital inflammatory disease, or immune-compromising systemic disease. Both patients had an orbital exenteration and underwent a full work-up including evaluation of the regional lymph nodes and systemic work-up to rule out distant metastasis. Conclusions: Squamous cell carcinoma of the anophthalmic socket can develop many years after enucleation. Regular inspection of the anophthalmic socket containing a prosthesis to rule out conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma is prudent.

Invasive sinonasal mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection that usually occurs in immunocompromised or diabetic patients, and it is often fatal. The authors present a case of a woman patient suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus and diabetes mellitus treated with prednisone, presenting with a rapidly progressive rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis. She was successfully treated with combined intravenous antifungal therapy and radical debridement followed by complex defect reconstruction with a free vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap, tissue expander, and ophthalmic prosthesis.

Conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma developed in a 51-year-old man 40 years after he had enucleation of his left eye because of an explosion injury. He had worn several ocular prostheses for more than 40 years. Recently he had noticed an increasing sanguineous conjunctival discharge, a foreign body sensation, and swelling of his left lower eyelid. Incisional biopsies of an underlying conjunctival mass revealed squamous cell carcinoma. His work history did not involve exposure to radiation, chemicals, or the sun. The authors concluded that squamous cell carcinoma in this case was caused by chronic irritation as the result of long-standing use of a poorly fitting ocular prosthesis.

Purpose: To report 3 instances of 2 children who swallowed their ocular prostheses. Methods: A 30-month-old boy whose eye had been enucleated for retinoblastoma swallowed his ocular prosthesis on 2 different occasions, and a 32-month-old boy whose eye had also been enucleated for retinoblastoma swallowed his ocular prosthesis once. Results: In the second child, an abdominal radiograph was obtained, but the swallowed prosthesis was not apparent, and radiographic imaging of the recovered prosthesis failed to demonstrate an identifiable object. In each case, the prosthesis was recovered in the child's stool without incident several weeks later. Neither child had physical complications as a result of the swallowing events. Conclusions: We report 3 instances in which a child fitted for an ocular prosthesis after enucleation swallowed his prosthesis and had no untoward effects. The failure of imaging to detect the prostheses in the second child is attributed to the radiolucent nature of materials used in the manufacture of the prosthesis. Each of the children was having life stresses in addition to his medical treatment that may have accounted for his behavior.

Dermis-fat grafts have been widely used in the reconstruction of the anophthalmic socket, both primarily after enucleation and secondarily after extrusion or migration of an existing implant. The dermis-fat graft is an effective means of replacing orbital volume and affording motility of the ocular prosthesis with both low morbidity and a satisfactory cosmetic result. We present a modification to the dermis-fat graft technique. Our modification creates a domed shape to the anterior surface of the graft that simulates the curvature of the eye. The dome-shaped graft creates deeper fornices than a standard flat-surfaced dermis-fat graft. It also allows better contact between the prosthesis and the dermis as the graft moves. The prosthesis can be thinner centrally and lighter than a prosthesis fabricated for a socket with a standard dermis-fat graft or spherical implant. This results in better motility of the prosthesis while also replacing orbital volume. There is no additional morbidity associated with this technique. We have used this procedure successfully in 18 patients; 10 were primary grafts and eight secondary grafts. Motility of the prosthesis was satisfactory in all cases. There was no abnormal graft shrinkage. All grafts maintained their domed shape. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 21 months.

Corneal discomfort often prevents the successful wearing of a cosmetic scleral shell. Such sensitive corneas are traditionally covered with a Gunderson conjunctival flap. I describe two patients in whom preexisting severe conjunctival scarring precluded the possibility of developing a Gunderson flap. An alternative procedure in which autogenous split-thickness dermal grafts were sutured over the sensitive cornea was utilized in each patient. The dermal grafts reepithelialized with mucosa within 4 weeks, and both patients were then able to retain an ocular prosthesis without discomfort. I conclude that satisfactory corneal coverage may be obtained with a dermal graft when conjunctival scarring precludes the use of a Gunderson flap.

Background: High-density porous polyethylene (Medpor) has been used successfully as an implant in orbital fracture repair and in the management of both cosmetic and post-traumatic facial deformities. The material is well tolerated, resists infection, is nonantigenic, and promotes tissue ingrowth. Additionally, sutures can be passed through it. These characteristics led to its use as an implant in anophthalmic socket surgery. Methods: Twenty-one patients with anophthalmia underwent implantation of spherically shaped high-density porous polyethylene implants. The implant was used in six primary enucleations with direct extraocular muscle attachment, ten secondary implant insertions, one repeat secondary implant insertion, and five eviscerations. Results: Postoperative follow-up averaged 19 months. During this period, there were no extrusions, infections, significant inflammatory responses, or implant exposures. One implant was removed 4 months after insertion due to inadequate initial placement secondary to a severe post-traumatic orbital deformity. Successful re-implantation was performed without complication. Postoperatively, all sockets showed good to excellent motility. Results of histologic examination of the removed implant demonstrated minimal inflammatory response and extensive fibrovascular ingrowth involving 60% of the implant substance. Conclusions: This initial report indicates that high-density porous polyethylene can be used successfully as an implant in anophthalmic socket surgery. Its advantages over other similar implants include a significantly lower material cost and the ability to suture the extraocular muscles directly to it without the need for a covering material such as fascia or sclera. Experimental studies are in progress to determine if this implant can be integrated with an ocular prosthesis to promote improved motility and cosmesis.

We evaluated the need for additional lubrication in 200 consecutive patients using an ocular prosthesis. Of these patients, 154 (77%) required no additional lubrication, while 46 patients (23%) required supplemental lubrication. Enuclene, the only product manufactured specifically for the patient with an ocular prosthesis, has been reported by the majority of our patients to be inadequate for comfort and wearability. Other solutions for contact lens use were compared with Enuclene and found to be far superior by patients using an ocular prosthesis.