Sometimes, because of disease or trauma, the eye has to be surgically removed. In these cases, it is very important that the surgery be performed skillfully, by a properly trained oculoplastic surgeon.
When an eye is removed, the removed volume of tissue has to be replaced, by implantation of an orbital implant. If this is not done, permanent changes follow in the soft tissues of the orbit, which can hamper the fitting of an ocular prosthesis. when this happens, reconstructive surgery of the soft tissues of the orbit has to be performed, in order to create a new socket for the prosthesis.
Image 1. Before and after surgical reconstruction and prosthetic treatment of a deformed anophthalmic left orbit
In cases of congenital maldevelopment of the eye, a combined surgical and prosthetic treatment should be started as soon as possible, to prevent retardation of orbital bone and soft tissue growth, which is very difficult to correct later in life.
Image 2. Before and after combined surgical and prosthetic treatment of congenital under-development of the left eye
In our practice, we perform surgical removal of the eye where indicated, and primary volume replacement with an orbital implant. We also perform reconstructive procedures of the socket and eyelids. In congenital cases, we implement a simultaneous approach using prosthetic expanders, together with osmotic hydrogel orbital expanders.
