Can We Improve the Tolerance of an Ocular Prosthesis by Enhancing Its Surface Finish?

PURPOSE: Patients who wear an ocular prosthesis frequently suffer with dry eye symptoms and socket discharge, often on a daily basis. The aim of the study was to determine whether a smoother, optical quality polish of the prosthesis' surface could improve symptoms and wear tolerance. The study was designed as single-center, single-masked, prospective randomized controlled trial. Eighty-eight consecutive patients undergoing annual ocular prosthesis maintenance review were approached from the prosthesis clinic. Forty-one out of 49 eligible patients were recruited. METHODS: Participants were randomized to either a standard or a higher "optical quality" polish of their prosthesis. At entry to the trial, at 1 month, and 12 months they completed a questionnaire covering cleaning, lubricant use, inflammation, discomfort, and discharge. Lower scores indicated better tolerance of the prosthesis. At each visit, the prosthesis was stained and photographed against a standard background to assess deposit build up. Primary outcome measures were 1) a subjective questionnaire score and 2) an objective assessment of surface deposit build-up on prosthetic eyes by standardized photographic grading. RESULTS: Forty-one patients participated in the study. The median age of their prosthesis was 36 months (range 9 months-40 years). There was no statistically significant difference in questionnaire scores or deposit build up between the 2 groups at baseline. By 12-months, the higher optical quality polish showed a statistically significant reduction in symptoms and frequency of discharge (2.19 vs. 3.85; p = 0.05-lower scores better). Scoring of the prosthesis' deposit build-up showed a significant difference at 1 month, but this was not sustained at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Creating an optical quality finish to an ocular prosthesis reduces deposit build up on artificial eyes. The authors found this modification improved patient tolerance at 12 months.

Opto-mechanical design of a dispersive artificial eye.

We present an opto-mechanical artificial eye that can be used for examining multi-wavelength ophthalmic instruments. Standard off-the-shelf lenses and a refractive-index-matching fluid were used in the creation of the artificial eye. In addition to dispersive properties, the artificial eye can be used to simulate refractive error. To analyze the artificial eye, a multi-wavelength Hartmann-Shack aberrometer was used to measure the longitudinal chromatic aberration and the possibility of inducing refractive error. Off-axis chromatic aberrations were also analyzed by imaging through the artificial eye at two discrete wavelengths. Possible extensions to the dispersive artificial eye are also discussed.

A study of artificial eyes for the measurement of precision in eye-trackers.

The precision of an eye-tracker is critical to the correct identification of eye movements and their properties. To measure a system's precision, artificial eyes (AEs) are often used, to exclude eye movements influencing the measurements. A possible issue, however, is that it is virtually impossible to construct AEs with sufficient complexity to fully represent the human eye. To examine the consequences of this limitation, we tested currently used AEs from three manufacturers of eye-trackers and compared them to a more complex model, using 12 commercial eye-trackers. Because precision can be measured in various ways, we compared different metrics in the spatial domain and analyzed the power-spectral densities in the frequency domain. To assess how precision measurements compare in artificial and human eyes, we also measured precision using human recordings on the same eye-trackers. Our results show that the modified eye model presented can cope with all eye-trackers tested and acts as a promising candidate for further development of a set of AEs with varying pupil size and pupil-iris contrast. The spectral analysis of both the AE and human data revealed that human eye data have different frequencies that likely reflect the physiological characteristics of human eye movements. We also report the effects of sample selection methods for precision calculations. This study is part of the EMRA/COGAIN Eye Data Quality Standardization Project.

[The potential of ectoprosthetics in rehabilitation of patients with orbital pathology]. / Vozmozhnosti éktoprotezirovaniia v reabilitatsii patsientov s patologiei orbity.

AIM: rectification of indications and contraindications for ectoprosthetics and exploration of its potential as a modern rehabilitation modality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Here are summarized the results of 89 cases of facial reconstruction with prosthetic means in trauma patients and those who had had congenital or oncological pathology and in whom other methods of rehabilitation were unable to remedy the defect within the orbital region. RESULTS: The indications and contraindications for facial prosthetics as well as the conditions, under which this type of medical and social rehabilitation can be carried out, were clarified. The authors also explained the process of creating an epiprosthesis and how it should be attached to the orbit to have the maximum effect on the existing defects of both the bone and auxiliary apparatus (including eyelid soft tissues, eyelashes, etc.). Because modern ectoprostheses are made of silicone and held in place with magnets, they provide an optimal cosmetic result, so that, regardless of patient's age, no rough defects can be detected on the affected side at a 2-m distance. CONCLUSION: As the production technology develops, the cosmetic appearance of epiprostheses improves and their use broadens.

Development and Validation of a Grading Scale for Custom Ocular Prosthesis.

PURPOSE: To develop a standardized and universally reproducible grading scale for artistic outcome of a custom ocular prosthesis. METHODS: A retrospective review of photographs of patients with custom ocular prosthesis. From the ocularistry database of a tertiary eye care hospital, photographs of patients with custom ocular prosthesis (30 random photos with additional 18 repetitions, total n = 50) were selected. Two independent oculoplastic surgeons, on the basis of characteristics of limbus, vascularity, and pigmentation, graded these photos. The photos were adjusted for confounders like magnification and illumination, and both graders used the same display system. The surgeons were blinded to each other. The characteristics were graded on a scale of 0 to 2 and total score was calculated for each photo. Inter-observer and intra-observer agreement was calculated using the kappa statistic. RESULTS: The inter-observer kappa coefficient for the three characteristics (95% confidence interval) were as follows: limbus 0.7 (0.55-0.85), vascularity 0.76 (0.58-0.94), and pigmentation 0.6 (0.34-0.85). The intra-observer kappa coefficient for the first surgeon was as follows: limbus 0.88 (0.7-0.95), vascularity 0.88 (0.73-0.95), and pigmentation 0.82 (0.54-0.93). The intra-observer kappa coefficient for the second surgeon was as follows: limbus 0.8 (0.44-0.93), vascularity 0.55 (0.13-0.8), and pigmentation 0.76 (0.6-0.84). CONCLUSIONS: A good intra- and inter-observer agreement was demonstrated. In view of no existing grading for prosthesis, this is a unique system to objectively grade the outcome of custom ocular prosthesis and can be incorporated in ocularistry teaching modules for standardization of outcomes.

[Analysis of ocular prosthetic care on the territory of Russia].

The results of ocular prosthetic help analysis in different regions of the country is presented based on estimation of number of patients who need ocular prostheses; analysis of quality and quantity of produced prostheses in the country; evaluation of demand for glass and plastic prostheses and price determination; study of regulations.

Evaluation of the Northern Ireland National Artificial Eye Service: A Regional Audit of Patient and Prosthetic Characteristics.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to establish an up-to-date baseline of the profile of patients using the National Artificial Eye Service in Northern Ireland and to understand key areas of service provision, to contribute to patient and health-care provider education, and thus to improve patient outcomes for future researchers. METHODS: A prospective audit of artificial eye wearers attending the Northern Ireland National Artificial Eye Service between May 18, 2015 and June 26, 2015 was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 131 patients, who attended consecutively for appointments over the 6-week period, were included: males 68%; females 32%. The majority of eyes were lost secondary to trauma (54%). In recent decades, medical causes have now taken over as the primary referral cause for prosthetic eyes. Approximately, one-third of patients attending the service required further education on how to maintain the hygiene of their ocular prosthesis. CONCLUSION: Patients attending artificial eye services should be further educated about using lubricants to maintain the hygiene of their prosthesis. Primary care health professionals (General Medical Practitioners and Primary Care Optometrists) should be informed about artificial eye services and of how to contact the service for advice if required. Trauma remains the most common cause for referral; however, in recent decades more patients are attending secondary to a medical cause of eye loss. Health service providers should be aware of the changing profile of patients attending artificial eye services and of the medical and traumatic causes of eye loss.

Implant-retained prosthetic rehabilitation of orbital defects.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of endosseous transcutaneous implants to retain removable facial prostheses for the rehabilitation of orbital defects. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Six patients with a history of facial defects secondary to orbital exenteration for cancer ablation. OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinically noted functional and cosmetic results, patient reports of satisfaction, and complications encountered. RESULTS: Twenty-three of 25 implants were integrated (postoperative period, 13 to 65 months; mean, 44.2 months), representing an integration success rate of 92%. All patients were successfully wearing implant-retained prostheses after 48.3 months (post-prosthesis delivery period, 1 to 48.3 months; mean, 24.5 months). Overall patient satisfaction was very high. CONCLUSIONS: Implant-retained prosthetics represent a safe and effective treatment option. It is anticipated that this treatment will become the standard of rehabilitative care for patients with orbital defects.

Cosmetic conformers.

The loss of an eye is an emotionally traumatic event. A prosthetic eye is usually not fitted until the socket has healed (about 6 weeks after surgery). This period, during which a clear conformer is fitted, can be particularly traumatic, especially for the newly anophthalmic patient. The authors have designed interim acrylic prosthetic conformers to help patients overcome some of these problems while preserving the necessary characteristics of ideal postoperative conformers.

[The correction of supra-tarsal depression after enucleation]. / La correction du creux supra tarsal après énucléation.

Supra-tarsal depression after enucleation is a frequent occurrence, and many surgical methods have been applied to correct this anomaly, which results from the relative smallness of the implant, and its downward migration. As subperiosteal orbital floor implants provided unsatisfactory results a mould of the supra- tarsal depression was taken to attempt direct correction of the anomaly, by means of a silicone-gel custom-made prothesis. The prothesis is implanted behind the septum orbitale, above the levator muscle and in front of the recessed orbital fat. Good results have been obtained in the 6 cases treated in this manner, and no complications have been reported.

Hydroxyapatite implants--a new trend in enucleation and orbital reconstructive surgery.

As treatment modalities evolve in ophthalmology one must assess and re-evaluate current methods of therapy in the care and treatment of the patient facing the loss of an eye. With the advent of Hydroxyapatite Orbital Implants, new challenges face the ophthalmic nurse in caring for the patient undergoing enucleation and reconstructive surgery. Integrated orbital implants are used to replace the volume of the orbit when the eye is removed due to enucleation, evisceration, or as secondary orbital implants. Various materials have been used in the past to replace orbital volume, with the most common being silicone or polymethylmethacrylate. Hydroxyapatite is a new orbital implant material which has unique interconnected porous matrix derived from marine corals with a mineral composition similar to bone. This orbital implant undergoes fibrovascular ingrowth by the patient's own tissue, becoming truly integrated and less likely to reject, migrate or extrude. The hydroxyapatite implant may be inserted with a variety of surgical techniques, all of which are more complex than standard enucleation implant techniques and have special considerations for the ophthalmic registered nurse.

The development of measurement tools for prosthetic eye research.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to develop tools to measure the condition of ocular prostheses and the socket's response to prosthetic eyewear. METHODS: A novel staining technique for displaying deposits on prosthetic eyes was developed. Equal interval perceptual grading scales for measuring inferior palpebral conjunctival inflammation, and anterior and posterior stained surface deposits on prosthetic eyes were developed from 800 photographs of 43 volunteers. The photographs for each scale were chosen by the authors. A group of four ophthalmologists, three optometrists and three senior students was consulted about selection criteria and asked to position the photographs along a 1.5 m rule to determine equal intervals. Photographs judged not to represent exactly equal perceptual intervals were exchanged with others from the original pool. The final scales (a five-photograph scale for inflammation and two 11 photograph scales for deposits) were assessed for inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability by groups of senior optometry students. RESULTS: Standard deviations for inter-rater reliability tests were 0.52 scale units for the inflammation scale, 0.99 for the anterior surface deposits scale and 1.03 for the posterior surface deposits scale. The standard deviation of the test-retest differences for inflammation was 0.6 scale units and for both anterior and posterior surface deposits it was 0.71. CONCLUSIONS: A novel technique for displaying and measuring the intensity and extent of deposit formation on prosthetic eye surfaces has been described. The two equal interval perceptual grading scales that have been developed to quantify the extent of deposit formation together with the equal interval perceptual scale for grading severity of palpebral conjunctival inflammation will for the first time allow the effects of prosthetic eye wear to be evaluated. Further research to validate the scale for palpebral conjunctival inflammation in a clinical setting is recommended. The technique for staining deposits on prosthetic eyes is recommended for clinical practice.

Prosthetic rehabilitation of phthisis bulbi by digital imaging technique--a case report.

Phthisis bulbi is a condition of an eye wherein there is atrophy and disorganization of the intraocular structures, leading to anatomically disfigured and shrunken eyeball. Prosthetic rehabilitation over the residual eyeball is the preferred treatment of choice over surgical intervention such as enucleation or evisceration. A fundamental objective of any maxillofacial rehabilitation is to enable the patient to cope up with his loss and endure the process of rehabilitation. The present article reports a simplified technique of fabricating the customized prosthesis using digital imaging technique for phthisis bulbi patients. The customized Scleral shell provides better mobility, improved appearance and less discomfort to the patient.

Contribuição da Prótese Bucomaxilofacial na internacionalização da Odontologia / Contribution of Maxillofacial Prosthetics for the dentistry internationalization

Objetivos: Este artigo visa exemplificar uma parceria internacional técnico cientifica por meio da utilização de técnica idealizada e patenteada por pesquisadores brasileiros. Materiais e Métodos: Um grupo de pesquisadores brasileiros idealizou, pesquisou e patenteou uma técnica de obtenção e utilização de íris digitalizada na reabilitação protética ocular. A internacionalização do método foi decorrente do intercâmbio estabelecido entre professores do Brasil e do México.A permanência do pesquisador mexicano, por um período em que especializou e concluiu o curso de mestrado, junto aos colegas brasileiros, pôde oferecer conhecimento e treinamento na aplicação da técnica proposta. Resultados: São apresentados casos clínicos em que a reabilitação protética ocular foi realizada usando a técnica brasileira de íris digitalizada. Conclusão:Pesquisas brasileiras, principalmente na área da saúde, vêm tendo destaque internacional. A preocupação com a melhora da qualidade de vida torna relevantes nossos estudos e técnica sem âmbito mundial.

Objectives: This article aims to illustrate a scientific technical international relation ship through the use of technique created and patented by Brazilian researchers. Materials and Methods: A group of Brazilian researchers devised, researched and patented a technique of obtaining and using scanned iris in ocular prosthetic rehabilitation. The internationalization of the technique was due to technical and scientific partner ship between Brazilian and Mexican researchers. A Mexican researcher remained for a period in which he specialized and completed his master’s course with the Brazilian team that was able to transfer knowledge and offer atraining in the application of the technique. Results: Three cases are shown, two Brazilian an done Mexican. Ocular Prosthetic rehabilitation of these cases was performed using the Brazilian technique of scanned iris. Conclusion: Brazilian research, especially in health, comes with international relevance. The concern with improving life quality makes our technical studies relevant world wide.