In the unfortunate instance when a patient loses an eye due to trauma, infection, congenital deformity, or acquired disease, our goal is to provide a normal-appearing ocular prosthesis with good motility. In recent years the use of the porous spherical implant has markedly improved results and decreased the complication rate associated with orbital implant surgery.
The two most common porous implant materials include: hydroxyapatite and polyethylene. These substances are commonly wrapped in autologous (patient’s own) tissue or donor tissue and implanted into the orbit once the eye has been removed. The extraocular muscles are then attached to the tissue to provide normal motility to the implant. Once the tissue swelling resolves, the patient is fitted for a prosthetic eye. Eye enucleation and evisceration is the removal of an eye due to:
- Disease
- Glaucoma
- Trauma
- Blindness
- Eye pain
Usually the adjacent supporting structures of the eye socket and eyelids are not removed.
The prosthesis is designed and placed about 12 weeks after orbital implantation. Prostheses are often made of porcelain, and look natural as they are custom-fitted and color matched to the patient’s other eye.