Ocular prosthesis fitting in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital: A 5 year review

Abstract

Background: Ocular prosthesis (OP) plays an important role in reducing the psychological trauma of eye removal. It helps in restoring self confidence in  the patient, prevent eyelid deformation, and orientate the lacrimal flux. OP is usually inserted between 6-8 weeks post-operatively following evisceration  and enucleation. This study is set to report our experience on the use of ocular prosthesis vis-à-vis indications and common complications associated.   

Method: All 77 patients who had destructive ocular surgeries and ocular prosthesis fitted within the 5 year study period in our hospital were reviewed.  Information obtained from the patients’ folders include socio-demographics characteristics and indication for OP fitting, type of destructive ocular  surgery done and complication following ocular prosthesis insertion.

Results: Seventy-seven patients had destructive ocular surgeries and ocular  prosthesis inserted within the study period. The mean age of the patients was 38.7 (SD ± 28.9) and their ages ranged from 1year- 90years. More than half  (57.1%) were male, 28.6% were farmers while, 20.8% were full-time housewives. Endophthalmitis (37.7%) and anterior staphyloma (31.2%) were the main  indications for destructive ocular surgery that required OP  insertion.  Seventy-four evisceration was performed within the study period, while 72 of the patients had ocular implant inserted during the primary  surgery. Forty-four OPs were fitted into the left eye using stock type of ocular prosthesis.

Conclusion: Endophthalmitis and anterior staphyloma were the main indications for destructive ocular surgery which necessitated OP fitting.  Evisceration was a major surgical technique used, and the stock shell ocular prostheses were mostly implanted.