The glass spherical hollow orbital implant: a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
Various types of orbital implants are in use in the rehabilitation of anophthalmic patients. The latest is the expensive hydroxyapatite implant. The study objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of low cost glass spherical hollow implants, as primary and secondary implants.


METHODS
St Michaels and Frazer Private Hospitals, Colombo.


METHODS
65 patients had glass sphere orbital implants between 1987 and 1995; 51 primary (evisceration 46, enucleation 5) and 14 secondary (evisceration 2, enucleation 12). At 9 to 12 months follow up, patients were evaluated for mobility of implant, prosthesis mobility, lid sulcus deformity, cosmetic results and complications.


RESULTS
Primary glass spherical hollow implants provide excellent mobility of the implant (92%), cosmesis (88%), prosthesis mobility (67%), with a low rate of complications (9.5%). Results of primary implant was superior to that of secondary (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Excellent results were obtained with spherical glass spheres as primary implants following evisceration.
Stephen
B E
BE
Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000853:Anophthalmos / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D015353:Eye Enucleation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005133:Eye Movements; D005260:Female; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020273:Orbital Implants / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013188:Sri Lanka