Purpose: to assess the five-year results of use of acrylic implant for artificial eyes and the patient satisfaction about these results.
Setting: Sohag University Hospital, Sohag University, Egypt.
Design: Retrospective non-randomized clinical trial.
Methods:This study included 168 eyes of 168 patients. All eyes underwent evisceration and acrylic implantation. Follow up period was at least 6 months. The main outcome measures were the prosthesis movements, cosmetic appearances and the patients' satisfaction
Results:The female to male ratio was 5:2 (120 females and 48 males) with mean age 25±7.9 years (range 14-52 years). The main outcome results were classified into 3 groups. Group (A) included 79 eyes (47%) and characterized by excellent cosmetic appearance and good prosthesis movement. Group (B) included 51 eyes (30.4%) and characterized by good cosmetic appearance and accepted prosthesis movement. Group (C) included 38 eyes (22.6%) and characterized by bad cosmetic appearance and complications like extrusion of the acrylic implants and 21 eyes (12.5%) and contracted socket in 3 eyes (1.8%). Other recorded complications were lid edema and ecchymosis in 39 eyes (23.2%) and shallow fornices in 17 eyes (10.1%).
Conclusion:
This study proved that the use of acrylic implants for artificial eyes is nearly the same universal results regarding cosmesis, eye movements and patient satisfaction yet this provide the cheapest alternative for the patients who cannot afford the cost of expensive implants as this is suitable for low socioeconomic patients.