ABSTRACT
Conformers and symblepharon rings are routinely used to keep fornices formed after socket surgery or in the presence of conjunctival cicatricial disease. However, there is no accepted standard size or shape of conformers or symblepharon rings. We measured the ideal conformer and symblepharon sizes in patients undergoing socket surgery and designed six conformer and symblepharon sizes. The full set of six conformers and symblepharon rings is available to the surgeon at the end of surgery. We have successfully used these conformers and symblepharon rings in over 600 cases during the last 7 years. These standardized sizes allow more accurate fitting of conformers and symblepharon rings.
Subject(s)
Eye Enucleation/instrumentation , Eye Evisceration/instrumentation , Orbit/surgery , Prostheses and Implants/standards , Humans , Plastics , Prosthesis FittingABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Eye Color , Eye, Artificial/standards , Adult , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Patient SatisfactionABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Congenital anophthalmos is a rare condition in which intervention at an early age can stimulate orbital expansion and maximise facial symmetry. Much is still unknown, however, regarding the degree of soft tissue and bony orbital growth achieved using the orbital expanders presently available. METHODS: A retrospective review of 59 congenitally anophthalmic orbits in 42 patients was carried out. RESULTS: The soft tissue and bony orbital expansion achieved using serial solid shapes is reported, and experience with hydrophilic expanders and inflatable silicone expanders is reviewed. CONCLUSION: Although serially fitted solid shapes in the orbit lead to increased expansion of orbital soft tissue and bone compared with no orbital implant, further orbital tissue enlargement is required. The inflatable silicone expander may allow more rapid and extensive orbital tissue expansion, but design changes are needed to achieve this.
Subject(s)
Anophthalmos/therapy , Eye, Artificial , Orbit/growth & development , Anophthalmos/physiopathology , Child, Preschool , Eyelids/growth & development , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Infant , Male , Retrospective Studies , Silicones , WaterABSTRACT
Although superceded by corneal hard and soft contact lenses for the correction of simple refractive error, the scleral lens still has numerous medical applications in modern ophthalmological practice. However, a major problem with scleral lenses has been the limited wearing time due to corneal occlusion and consequent hypoxia. We present two alternative methods for the production of moulded gas permeable scleral contact lenses.