Concerns of Anophthalmic Patients Wearing Cryolite Glass Prosthetic Eyes

Prosthetic eye care - The current state of the art

After eye loss, a fast supply with a visually appealing prosthetic eye is not just a cosmetic solution, it is the key factor for a successful social, occupational, and psychological rehabilitation. For a long time, prosthetic eye care was based on acquired experiences, and there was a significant lack of systematic studies and peer-reviewed literature on this subject. However, in recent decades, research in the field of ocular prosthetics has been driven forward by ophthalmologists, ocularists, optometrists, ophthalmoplastic surgeons, and psychologists. Many essential findings have been made for improving the care of anophthalmic patients. In this extensive review, the current state of the art regarding prosthetic eye care based on the newest scientific findings is summarized. The broad focus includes important historical aspects in ocular prosthetics, in particular the historical development that led to ocularistic care with different prosthetic materials - cryolite glass and polymethyl methacrylate. Furthermore, epidemiology and etiology of eye loss, surgical techniques of eye removal as well as types and production of prosthetic eyes are set out. Important topics with new insights include psychological issues such as living with a prosthetic eye, treatment of children with anophthalmia and microphthalmia, as well as evidence-based prosthetic eye maintenance and handling. In addition, anophthalmic socket complications and associated treatment options with a focus on the common dry anophthalmic socket and post-enucleation socket syndromes were described in detail. Finally, we will speculate how the field of prosthetic eye care will develop in the future.

Management of external ocular prosthesis by ocularists: results of an online survey conducted in Brazil and Spain

PURPOSE

To analyse the ocularist's perspective on the management of the anophthalmic socket and external ocular prosthesis (EOP).

METHODS

Ocularists from two countries were invited to participate in an online questionnaire. Data were collected on demographics, anophthalmic socket and EOP management (manufacturing, use, cleaning), complications, follow-up visits and multidisciplinary care. The frequency and proportions of the responses were statistically analysed.

RESULTS

The questionnaire was addressed to 20 Brazilian and 17 Spanish ocularists, obtaining a response rate of 65% and 64.7%, respectively. 62.5% of respondents were men. The most common cause of anophthalmia in Brazil (69.2%) and Spain (36.4%) is an eye disease (chi square: p = 0.188). Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is the most commonly used material in EOP manufacture (chi square: p = 0.448), and 70.8% reported using customized EOPs (chi square: p = 0.069). Deposits are frequently observed in both countries (chi square: p = 0.157). Changing the prosthesis is recommended after 5 to 10 years by Brazilian ocularists, and after less than 5 years of use by Spanish ocularists (81.8%) (chi square: p = 0.041). Annual follow-up is recommended by Spanish ocularists (45.5%), while semestral (38.5%) and case-dependent (38.5%) follow-up is recommended by Brazilian ocularists (chi square: p = 0.267). Daily cleaning is advocated by 61.5% of Brazilian ocularists and once a month by 45.5% of Spanish ocularists (chi square: p = 0.098), with 75% of ocularists from both countries not recommending EOP removal at night (Fisher´s exact test: p = 0.166). Good communication between ocularists and ophthalmologists was reported by 87.5% of our responders (chi square: p = 0.642).

CONCLUSION

Although there are no unified protocols on the management of EOPs, Brazilian and Spanish ocularists follow similar guidelines. Differences between countries were the patients´ referral and the prosthesis´ useful life.

Workflow and treatment results for computer-aided design and 3D-printed conformer therapy of congenital anophthalmia and microphthalmia

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To evaluate treatment with custom, three-dimensional (3D) printed conformers for socket expansion in congenital microphthalmia and anophthalmia (MICA).

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of prospective cohort from 2016 to 2020. All children received custom-made 3D-printed conformers increasing in size. We measured height, width, thickness, surface and volume of first and consecutive conformers, as well as horizontal palpebral fissure length (HPF) at start and follow-up visits. We analysed these parameters for severely (<45%) and moderately (>45%-75%) affected children, based on affected axial length on ultrasonography.

RESULTS

We included 18 cases (9 severe, 9 moderate) with a total of 174 conformers (88 severe, 86 moderate) and a mean follow-up of 2.8 years (range 1.3-4.8). The mean relative HPF increased from 77% to 93% with 16/17 cases reaching >80%, and 12/17 cases >90% symmetry. Horizontal and vertical conformer dimensions increased up to 10 months of treatment, with a steeper slope for the severe group (10.5% vs 5.5% for height and 9.0% vs 6.1% for width gain per treatment month, for severe and moderate MICA, respectively). After 10 months of treatment conformer height and width increased only slightly. No serious complications were observed.

CONCLUSION

3D-design and printing of solid conformers results in highly acceptable horizontal eyelid symmetry in the treatment of congenital MICA. The mean increase in conformer height and width in the first 10 months should be about 170% for moderate and about 200% for severe MICA. The presented conformer size formulas can aid ophthalmologists and ocularists to plan conformer treatment.

Novel point-of-care biomarkers of the dry anophthalmic socket syndrome: tear film osmolarity and matrix metalloproteinase 9 immunoassay

PURPOSE

To compare tear film osmolarity (TFO) values and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) levels between anophthalmic sockets and healthy fellow eyes and to assess the use of the MMP-9 and TFO as objective biomarkers for the dry anophthalmic socket syndrome (DASS).

METHODS

In this prospective single-center study, the anophthalmic sockets and healthy fellow eyes of 98 unilateral anophthalmic patients were assessed using the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, InflammaDry® MMP-9 point-of-care immunoassay, TFO with TearLab™ Osmolarity System, and clinical conjunctival inflammation. MMP-9 concentration and conjunctival inflammation were graded semi-quantitatively. Differences between anophthalmic sockets and the healthy fellow eyes for OSDI scores, MMP-9, TFO values, clinical conjunctival inflammation, and eyelid abnormalities as well as the correlation between these factors and demographic data were evaluated.

RESULTS

Patients had significantly higher OSDI, MMP-9, and TFO values, as well as higher conjunctival inflammation on the anophthalmic side, compared to the healthy side (p ≤ 0.002, respectively). For anophthalmic sockets, there was a significant positive correlation between OSDI scores and TFO values (p = 0.007), between the grade of posterior blepharitis and TFO values (p = 0.026), and between the conjunctival inflammation and MMP-9 values (p < 0.001), as well as between MMP-9 levels and time since eye loss (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Measuring MMP-9 and TFO may be helpful tools as efficient, quantifiable biomarkers, disease course parameters, or predictors for treatment response in the clinical management of patients with DASS or future therapy studies. Ophthalmologists should consider the updated diagnosis criteria including TFO and the definition for DASS proposed in this study.

[Evisceration, enucleation and exenteration-Indications, techniques, and postoperative care]

Various surgical techniques are available for the extirpation of an eye, depending on the underlying disease. Typical indications encompass tumors, inflammatory and infectious processes, glaucoma, trauma as well as congenital malformations. Surgical procedures include evisceration (resection of the intraocular space with preservation of the sclera), enucleation (extirpation of the entire eyeball including sclera and cornea) and exenteration (resection of the complete orbital soft tissue). The early detection of postoperatively manifesting complications, such as implant extrusion, conjunctivitis, postenucleation socket syndrome as well as the development of enophthalmus or ptosis, is of particular relevance in the context of postoperative care regarding functional, esthetic and social outcome. Special attention must be paid to ensuring a complication-free rehabilitation process, including the supply of a suitable, precisely fitting prosthesis or epithesis. This ensures the patient's psychosocial reintegration, in which an integrated interdisciplinary cooperation with ocularists and psychologists is essential. The latter play a particularly important role, as the psychological stress resulting from the procedure is often associated with a considerable reduction in the quality of life.

[Complications of anophthalmic orbits-Treatment and aftercare]

The possible complications of anophthalmic eye sockets can occur due to many different pathomechanisms. A differentiation is made between allergic, infectious, inflammatory or mechanical causes. This article gives an overview on the different etiologies of socket complications with their pathophysiology and treatment options.

Health Literacy in Patients Wearing Prosthetic Eyes: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE

To investigate general and electronic health literacy (HL) levels in prosthetic eye wearing patients, to define factors associated with reduced HL, and to identify a potential healthcare gap.

METHODS

In this prospective cross-sectional study 148 prosthetic eye wearers were screened using the 16-item European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q16) and the 8-item electronic Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS). HLS-EU-16 and eHEALS scores were correlated to health levels, vision functioning, and sociodemographic factors.

RESULTS

A total of 85 patients (57%) had adequate, 38 (26%) problematic, and 9 (6%) inadequate general HL, while 16 (11%) had no valid HLS-EU-Q16 score. General HL was positively correlated with physical health (p = 0.009) and negatively with a migration background (p = 0.023). There was a positive correlation between electronic HL and educational level (p < 0.001), social status (p = 0.048), and mental health (p = 0.013). Higher age was associated with lower electronic HL (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

More than 30% of the prosthetic eye wearers had problematic or even inadequate general HL, suggesting a significant health care gap. To identify patients with reduced HL, a standardized screening tool should be implemented as part of routine clinical care. Within integrated care, patients with insufficient HL should be offered barrier-free advisory services and information brochures in various languages.

Post-enucleation socket syndrome-a novel pathophysiological definition

BACKGROUND

The last definition of the post-enucleation socket syndrome (PESS) by Tyers and Collin-formulated almost 40 years ago in 1982-is predominantly based on the clinical characteristics and does not include the insights of newer studies into the pathophysiological mechanism of the PESS.

METHODS

A systematic PubMed literature review regarding the pathophysiological mechanism of the PESS was performed, and results were comprised to give an overview of the current knowledge of the PESS including the exact pathophysiological mechanism.

RESULTS

The primarily postulated pathophysiological mechanism of the PESS was the atrophy of orbital tissues, especially of fat, resulting in variable clinical findings. Newer studies using high-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging or performing histopathological analyses found no orbital fat atrophy but rather a rotatory displacement of the orbital tissues from superior to posterior and from posterior to inferior together with the retraction of the extraocular muscles and a possible volume loss of the orbital implant by resorption if it is manufactured from hydroxyapatite. PESS results in a backward tilt of the superior fornix, a deep superior sulcus, a pseudo-ptosis, a lower eyelid elongation and laxity, a shallower inferior fornix, as well as enophthalmos and may lead to an inability of wearing ocular prostheses.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel and comprehensive definition of the PESS is proposed: PESS is a multifactorial and variable syndrome caused by a rotatory displacement of orbital contents together with the retraction of the extraocular muscles and possible resorption of the orbital implant if it is manufactured from hydroxyapatite.

Should we care about the ocular surface in the anophthalmic patient?

PURPOSE

To assess clinical and biomolecular changes of the conjunctival epithelium in anophthalmic patients wearing an ocular prosthesis.

METHODS

Thirty-five unilateral anophthalmic patients were enrolled. Patients with blepharitis, lid abnormalities, and topical/systemic medication affecting the ocular surface were excluded. Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye (SANDE) questionnaire and tear function test (Schirmer Test Type I) were recorded. Conjunctival inflammation and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) were graded in the anophthalmic side and fellow eye. Impression cytology sampling of the upper, lower tarsal, and posterior/bulbar conjunctiva from the anophthalmic socket were collected and compared to healthy controls.

RESULTS

Patients had significantly higher SANDE (p < 0.001), Schirmer I test (p = 0.004), conjunctival inflammation (p < 0.001), and MGD scores (p < 0.001) on the anophthalmic side compared to the fellow eye. Mucin 5AC, inflammatory markers (MMP-9, ICAM-1) expression (p < 0.001), and response to oxidative stress (NRF2-KEAP1 signaling pathway) (p < 0.05) were significantly upregulated in the posterior conjunctival surface in the anophthalmic socket.

CONCLUSIONS

Anophthalmic patients complained of more pronounced dry eye symptoms and presented more significant signs of inflammation and MGD on the anophthalmic side. The bulbar conjunctiva, behind the prosthesis, showed more significant hyperexpression of mucins, markers of inflammation, and increased response to oxidative stress compared to the tarsal conjunctiva. Patients wearing ocular prosthesis had signs of inflammation resembling dry eye disease.

The psychosocial impact of losing an eye through traumatic injury and living with prosthetic restoration: A thematic analysis

This study aims to explore the psychosocial factors and challenges affecting the lives of those who wear an ocular prosthesis following a traumatic eye injury. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with eight individuals resulted in five themes: emotional devastation in the aftermath; moving forward; fear of negative social evaluation; keeping it normal - protecting self and close others; and threat of injury & blindness. Enucleation or evisceration of an eye causes significant emotional stress. Despite successful prosthetic restoration, many individuals continue to experience ongoing psychosocial challenges, as a consequence of their experiences of visible difference and visual impairment.

The Impact of an Ocular Prosthesis on the Quality of Life, Perceived Stress, and Clinical Adaptation of Anophthalmic Patients: A Clinical and Longitudinal Trial

PURPOSE

This prospective study evaluated and correlated the impact of ocular prostheses on quality of life and stress with socioeconomic level and clinical characteristics. The clinical difficulties and perceptions of patients after ocular rehabilitation were evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Anophthalmic patients (at least 18 years of age) who were not users of ocular prostheses were recruited. The Medical Outcomes Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) questionnaires were administered before and after 3 and 6 months of prosthesis installation. Clinical characteristics, difficulties, and perceptions were evaluated by quantitative and descriptive analysis (7 days, 3 months, 6 months). Data were analyzed by the Friedman test and Pearson Correlation test (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

The final sample consisted of 26 patients. Quality of life showed improvement in the "Bodily Pain" and "General Health" domains. Wearing the prosthesis did not influence perceived stress. The clinical evaluation showed clinical discharge over 6 months and presence of pain only at 7 days. A weak correlation occurred between sociodemographic characteristics and the categories "Role-Physical" (r = 0.423) and "General Health" (r = 0.494); cause of anophthalmia and "Role-Physical" (r = -0.471); and type of surgery and "General Health" (r = -0.432).

CONCLUSIONS

According to the results of this study, the provision of ocular prostheses showed positive influence in 2 domains of quality of life and weak correlations with socioeconomic level, type of surgery, and cause of loss. Ocular rehabilitation did not influence stress. The use and care of the prostheses did not affect tissue inflammation, but the discharge was continuous.

Dry anophthalmic socket syndrome - morphological alterations in meibomian glands

Purpose

To evaluate morphological alterations of meibomian glands (MGs) in the dry anophthalmic socket syndrome (DASS).

Methods

Fifteen unilateral anophthalmic patients wearing cryolite glass prosthetic eyes were enrolled. All patients with clinical blepharitis or other significant eyelid abnormalities were excluded. In vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) of the MGs in the lower eyelids both on the anophthalmic side and the healthy fellow eye was performed to quantify acinar unit density, acinar unit diameter, acinar unit area, meibum secretion reflectivity, the inhomogeneous appearance of the glandular interstice, and inhomogeneous appearance of the acinar walls.

Results

The lower eyelids of the anophthalmic sockets revealed a significant reduction of the acinar unit density (p = 0.003) as well as a significantly more inhomogeneous appearance of the periglandular interstices (p = 0.018) and the acinar unit walls (p = 0.015) than the healthy fellow eyelid. However, there were no significant differences regarding the acinar unit diameter, acinar unit area, and meibum secretion reflectivity of the MGs on the anophthalmic side compared to the healthy fellow eyelid (p ≥ 0.05, respectively).

Conclusions

The eyelids of anophthalmic sockets without clinical blepharitis demonstrate a reduced density of MG acinar units and a more inhomogeneous appearance of the periglandular interstices and the acinar unit walls. This can cause meibomian gland dysfunction contributing to DASS and suggests early treatment of these symptomatic patients, even in the clinical absence of any blepharitis signs.

Measuring quality of care and life in patients with an ocular prosthesis

PURPOSE

In patients with an anophthalmic condition, the primary determinants of success of ocular prosthetic rehabilitation are satisfaction with care and quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study is to develop a condition-specific questionnaire as a patient-reported outcome measure for patients with an ocular prosthesis.

METHODS

Observational cross-sectional prospective study. We included 100 patients (52 female, 48 male, > 18 years old) with an anophthalmic and ocular prosthetic condition existing for 2 years or more. The patients completed a pre-tested 72-item questionnaire regarding their experience on living with an ocular prosthesis in four domains of QoL: single vision and care, wearing comfort, physical appearance and motility, and psychosocial functioning. Associations with demographic factors and condition- and prosthesis-related variables were investigated with multivariate analysis. The questionnaire was reduced with principal component analysis to obtain the Global Ocular Prosthesis Score (GOPS).

RESULTS

Satisfaction scores for each QoL domain were high with a mean visual analogue score between 7.2 and 7.6. Patients were generally satisfied with the physical appearance of the artificial eye and reported adequate psychosocial functioning. Patients described the reduced peripheral visual field and socket discharge as chief complaints. The test was reduced to a 20-item questionnaire. The mean GOPS was 70.87 (median 75.00).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with longstanding ocular prosthetic wear are satisfied with their physical appearance and report adequate psychosocial functioning. A concise 20-item questionnaire for the anophthalmic condition is a valuable tool to quantitatively measure patient-reported outcome of ocular prosthetic rehabilitation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04321382, 03/2020, retrospectively registered.

Towards improving the biocompatibility of prosthetic eyes

Prosthetic eyes are currently manufactured using Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) which is not an ideal material because it is hydrophobic. While significant research has investigated the benefits of hydrophilic materials for contact lenses, no such research has been carried out on hydrophilic materials for prosthetic eyes until now. In this study, different derivatives of Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) monomer and methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer were grafted to PMMA using copolymerisation. The resulting matrixes were evaluated by water contact angle measurement, 24 h water absorption testing, and colour-difference measurement when exposed to ultraviolet light. The contact angle and water absorption results indicated that ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) grafted PMMA matrix had a better hydrophilic performance than the other matrixes tested. EGDMA is already a minor constituent of the PMMA matrix currently used for manufacturing prosthetic eyes but when the proportion of EGDMA monomer to MMA monomer used in the manufacturing process was increased to 50/50 the hydrophilicity of the matrix was significantly improved. EGDMA-grafted PMMA is inexpensive and comes as a liquid monomer that is easily mixed with the PMMA monomer that ocular prosthetists are familiar with. The mixture requires no special handling beyond the normal safety precautions that apply when using PMMA monomers. In-vitro testing shows that EGDMA-grafted PMMA significantly improves the wettability of PMMA currently used for the manufacture of prosthetic eyes and has the potential to significantly improve wearing comfort and socket health.

Anxiety and depression in patients wearing prosthetic eyes

PURPOSE

To investigate anxiety and depression levels in prosthetic eye-wearing patients using standardized psychometric instruments, to define factors associated with these psychological diseases, and to identify a potential healthcare gap.

METHODS

A total of 295 prosthetic eye wearers were screened using the 7-item generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7) and the 9-item patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9). Scores of GAD-7 and PHQ-9 were correlated with scores of general physical and mental health functioning, vision-related quality of life, appearance-related distress, appearance-related social function, and further biosocial factors.

RESULTS

Five patients (2%) had a pre-diagnosed anxiety disorder, and 20 patients (7%) had a pre-diagnosed depression. However, our screening revealed 26 patients (9%) with anxiety symptoms, 31 patients (11%) with depression symptoms, and 40 patients (14%) suffering from both anxiety and depression symptoms. This underdiagnosing for both anxiety and depression disorders was significant (p < 0.001, respectively). Higher GAD-7 scores were significantly associated with higher PHQ-9 scores, lower appearance-related social function, lower mental health functioning, and female gender (p ≤ 0.021, respectively). Higher PHQ-9 scores were significantly associated with lower physical and mental health functioning, higher educational degree, and non-traumatic eye loss (p ≤ 0.038, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Anxiety and depression disorders seem to be underdiagnosed in prosthetic eye wearers and to have higher incidence compared with the general population. Therefore, a psychometric screening should be routinely implemented in the clinical care. For a successful long-term rehabilitation, integrated care by a multidisciplinary team including ophthalmic plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists, ocularists, general practitioners, and psychologists is essential.

UK National Artificial Eye Questionnaire study: comparisons between cosmetic shell and artificial eye users. Part 1: demographics, comfort and satisfaction

AIMS

To compare the unique experiences related to artificial eye (AE) versus cosmetic shell (CS) wear.

METHODS

In this observational, cross-sectional study, the National Artificial Eye Questionnaire (NAEQ) was employed nationwide within the National Health Service England. The proportions or mean values of the aetiology of sight or eye loss, demographics, length of prosthesis wear, reported adjustment time to the prosthesis, comfort, discharge and satisfaction of appearance were compared between AE and CS respondents.

RESULTS

Overall, 951 respondents wore an AE, while 238 wore a CS. In both, trauma was the leading cause for the prosthesis (47.6% and 44.1%, respectively); however, these groups differed in the proportions of the other aetiologies (p<0.0001). AE respondents were generally older (p=0.002) and had longer overall prosthesis wear (p<0.0001) compared with CS respondents. The overall comfort score was similarly, relatively high in both AE and CS respondents (80.4±0.73 vs 81.41±1.45; p=0.51). The discharge-related patient satisfaction ranking was relatively low, in both groups, with a small trend towards worse discharge scores among AE wearers (59.41±0.76 vs 62.26±1.52, p=0.094). Self-reported length of time that has taken to adjust to wearing the prosthesis was not significantly different (p=0.17). Appearance of the eye (p=0.032) and motility of the prosthesis (p<0.0001) were ranked superior by CS respondents compared with AE.

CONCLUSIONS

This study characterises unique aspects of CS versus AE in a large national cohort. The results should provide reinforcement to the gain in popularity of CS.

Custom ocular prosthesis-related concerns: patient feedback survey-based report vis-à-vis objective clinical grading scales

Purpose: To report the outcomes of a survey on patients' concerns and satisfaction with custom ocular prosthesis (COP) wear and compare with objective clinician grading scales.Methods: The questionnaire was answered by 156 participants. General social concerns and prosthesis-related concerns were plotted on a scale of 0 to 10, indicating least to maximum satisfaction and also not concerned to very concerned. Comparison between subjective patient and objective clinician scores was done.Results: The mean age at presentation was 27.53 ± 15.53 years (range 3-72 years).For patients that underwent a prior surgical procedure, mean satisfaction with the surgery was 9.42 ± 1.27. Mean satisfaction with the COP was 8.98 ± 1.75. The median satisfaction score for the primary surgery as well as for the outcome of the custom ocular prosthesis was 10. Commonest prosthesis-related concerns were reduced motility (mean 3 ± 2, median 3), watering, crusting and discharge (mean 2 ± 2, median 2), and difference in the size of the prosthetic eye relative to the other eye (mean 1 ± 2, median 1). Subjective patient concern responses and the objective clinician grading correlated strongly for movement of the prosthesis (r = -0.84, p < .0001), periocular fullness (r = 0.65, p < .0001), color of the prosthesis (r = -0.8, p < .0001) and size relative to the other eye (r = 0.7, p < .0001).Conclusion: Custom ocular prosthesis usage had a high satisfaction score with minimal concerns. Commonest prosthesis-related concerns correlated strongly with objective clinician grading.

Depression, Anxiety and Stress Indicators for Prosthetic Eye Wearers

Background

This study explores the role of appearance, mucoid discharge, visual perception and functional problems as indicators for depression, anxiety and stress amongst prosthetic eye wearers.

Methods

A total of 217 anophthalmic patients who had worn a prosthetic eye for at least two years and were older than 16 years completed an anonymous questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to investigate differences and correlations between variables.

Results

The mean scores for depression, anxiety, and stress fell within the accepted normal ranges; however, 11% of participants experienced moderate depression, while 7% experienced severe or extremely severe levels. Ten percent were moderately anxious, and 7% were severely or extremely severely anxious. Five percent of participants were moderately stressed, while 7% were severely or extremely severely stressed.

Conclusion

Social settings are important predictors for depression, whereas anxiety and stress appear to derive more from appearance concerns and practical issues. Prosthetic eye wearers with employment, leisure and social functioning issues are at higher risk of depression, anxiety and stress, as well as appearance, anxiety and not feeling accepted by society. Older patients and those who feel accepted by society appear to suffer less anxiety and stress. It is recommended that psychologists be a part of an integrated team to address the needs of anophthalmic patients.

Dry anophthalmic socket syndrome - Standardized clinical evaluation of symptoms and signs

OBJECTIVES

To assess symptoms and signs of the dry anophthalmic socket syndrome (DASS) in a standardized manner.

METHODS

87 unilateral anophthalmic patients were evaluated using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), the 5-Item Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5), and a modified version of Symptom Assessment iN Dry Eye (SANDE) questionnaire separately for the anophthalmic socket and for the healthy fellow eye. Conjunctival inflammation was semi-quantitatively graded and Schirmer I test with topical anesthesia was performed bilaterally. The correlations between scores of the dry eye questionnaires and the results of the Schirmer tests, conjunctival inflammation, and demographic data were examined.

RESULTS

Patients had significantly higher OSDI, DEQ-5 and SANDE scores at the anophthalmic side compared to the healthy eye (p ≤ 0.019, respectively). 63% of patients complained of anophthalmic socket dryness in at least one of the three questionnaires. Patients had higher inflammation (p < 0.001) and more tear volume in the Schirmer I test with topical anesthesia (p ≤ 0.024) on the anophthalmic side compared to the fellow eye.

CONCLUSIONS

Most anophthalmic patients have significantly more subjective dryness complaints on their anophthalmic side compared to the healthy fellow eye, even in absence of tear deficiency and clinical blepharitis. Eye care practitioners should consider the diagnosis criteria and the definition for DASS proposed in this study, when counseling anophthalmic patients. However, research should be undertaken to investigate the role and the interactions of causative etiological causes for DASS. Furthermore, there is a high priority to establish a standardized examination protocol and to develop an evidence-based treatment algorithm for DASS.

Cryolite glass prosthetic eyes-the response of the anophthalmic socket

PURPOSE

To investigate mucoid discharge and the inflammatory response of anophthalmic sockets to cryolite glass prosthetic eye wear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 101 cryolite glass prosthetic eye wearers used visual analog scales (0-10) to measure frequency, color, volume, and viscosity of mucoid discharge associated with their prosthesis. Standardized photographs of the conjunctiva of their anophthalmic sockets were taken and conjunctival inflammation was semi-quantitatively graded (0-4). All characteristics of discharge and conjunctival inflammation were correlated to eye loss cause, hand washing behavior, and cleaning regimes as explanatory variables.

RESULTS

Mean mucoid discharge characteristics (0-10 scale) were frequency 5.3 ± 2.8, color 4.8 ± 3.2, volume 4.9 ± 3.0, and viscosity 5.1 ± 3.2. The mean conjunctival inflammation score (0-4 scale) was 2.1 ± 1.0. There was a positive correlation between the grade of conjunctival inflammation and the frequency (p = 0.018), color (p = 0.001), volume (p = 0.003), and the viscosity of mucoid discharge (p = 0.005). More conjunctival inflammation was associated with higher frequency of cleaning (p < 0.001) and lower frequency of hand washing before removal (p = 0.001). Higher frequency, color, volume, and viscosity of discharge were associated with higher frequency of cleaning (p ≤ 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Discharge severity associated with prosthetic eye wear was positively correlated with more conjunctival inflammation, higher cleaning frequency, and less hand washing before handling. The results suggest that cryolite glass eyes should not be removed daily for cleaning and that further research should be undertaken to develop a standardized treatment protocol for managing inflammation and mucoid discharge. This protocol would advise hand washing before handling cryolite glass eyes and recommend a minimum period of wear between cleaning sessions.

Concerns of anophthalmic patients-a comparison between cryolite glass and polymethyl methacrylate prosthetic eye wearers

PURPOSE

To compare the concerns of experienced cryolite glass and (poly)methyl methacrylate (PMMA) prosthetic eye wearers.

METHODS

One hundred six experienced cryolite glass and 63 experienced PMMA prosthetic eye wearers completed an anonymous questionnaire regarding general and specific prosthetic eye concerns at least 2 years after natural eye loss. From these independent anophthalmic populations, we identified 34 case-control pairs matched for the known influencing demographic variables of gender, occupation, age, and time since natural eye loss.

RESULTS

The levels of concern were significantly lower in the cryolite glass group than those in the PMMA group for the following: loss of balance (p < 0.001), phantom sight vision (p < 0.001), pain (p < 0.001), receiving good advice (p = 0.001), fullness of orbit (p = 0.001), size (p = 0.007), direction of gaze relative to the healthy fellow eye (p = 0.005), eye lid contour (p = 0.037), comfort of the prosthetic eye (p < 0.001), colour relative to the healthy fellow eye (p < 0.001), and retention of the prosthetic eye (p < 0.001). Concerns about watering, crusting, discharge, visual perception, appearance, movement of the prosthetic eye, and health of the remaining eye were not significantly different between both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study showed that many general and specific levels of concern were significantly lower for cryolite glass prosthetic eye wearers than for PMMA prosthetic eye wearers. The question of why there are significant differences and to what extent the material of the prosthesis (cryolite glass or PMMA) has an impact on various concerns remains unanswered and should be addressed in a prospective comparative multicentre trial.