Management of acquired anophthalmos: A historical review

Abstract

The treatment of patients who had lost one or both eyes had already commenced in the ancient times. To replace an eye which was lost by accident or disease, or by an enucleation for medical reasons, artificial eyes (eye-prostheses) of various materials, shapes and sizes were used. In the late 19th century the intraorbital implant was introduced. After enucleation the implant was inserted into the orbit, prior to fitting the prosthesis, in order to improve the cosmetic appearance. From that time on, all kinds of variations on the original spherical implant were used. Increasing interest in this field, especially during the last four decades, has resulted in much progress and a better understanding of the problems of the so-called postenucleation socket syndrome. In this paper the authors review the problems associated with the enucleation of an eye and their management.

Key Words:

• anophthalmos
• enucleation
• artificial eye
• implant
• postenucleation socket syndrome
• history