Purpose:

To identify the clinical problems encountered during ocular prosthesis use that necessitate prosthesis discontinuation and replacement.

Materials and Methods:

The clinical characteristics of 50 patients who required ocular prosthesis replacement were evaluated in this cross-sectional study. The medical indication for removal of the globe, total duration of prosthesis usage, the nature and frequency of prosthesis related problems, the primary reason for prosthesis replacement, the position of prosthesis in the ocular socket, prosthesis motility, and the clinical appearance of the socket, inferior conjunctival fornix and the position of upper eyelid were evaluated.

Results:

The mean age and the total duration of prosthesis use of 50 patients (27 males, 23 females) included in the study was 34.4±19.1 years and 15.1±12.8 years, respectively. Twenty-seven (54%) patients had undergone enucleation, 16 (%32) had undergone evisceration whereas 7 (14%) used prosthesis over their phthisical eyes. The most common indications for prosthesis replacement were prosthesis malposition (32%), prosthesis size incongruity with the contralateral eye (24%) and ocular discharge (24%). Seventy-six percent of patients had >1 prosthesis related complaints. Of the 38 patients with a history of ocular discharge, 9 (23.7%) had giant papillary conjunctivitis. Prosthesis motility was very limited or absent in 86% of patients. Four (%8) cases had shallow inferior fornices, 11(22%) had laxity of the inferior eyelid and 20 (%40) had upper lid ptosis. There were no statistically significant differences in the occurance of ocular discharge, ptosis, shallow inferior fornix or inferior eyelid laxity between patients who had undergone enucleation (n=27) and evisceration (n=16).

Conclusion:

Malposition of ocular prosthesis and ocular discharge are the most common indications for prosthesis discontinuation and replacement.

Keywords: Ocular prosthesis, prosthesis replacement