Purpose: To study the use of ultra-thick human amniotic membrane for management anophthalmic socket contracture.
Methods: A prospective study done at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Thirty-six patients (45 eyelids) were involved. Contracted socket caused by trauma, previous surgery or radiotherapy, delay in use of prosthesis, Congenital Anophthalmia/Microphthalmia, and Anophthalmia secondary to Enucleation/Evisceration were included in the study.
Results: Thirty-three patients (42 eyelids) underwent fornix reconstruction with cryopreserved ultra-thick human amniotic membrane. Mean ± SD age at surgery was (40.90 ± 17.32) years. Mean follow up was 10.5 months. Grade II fornix contracture was the most common type in 23 (54.8%) eyelids. The most common involved primary diagnosis was Anophthalmia secondary to Enucleation/Evisceration (n = 13). The incidence of pyogenic granuloma (PG) after surgery was seen in 8 eyelids (19.0%).
Conclusion: Anophthalmic contracted socket secondary to significant history of multiple PG excision (> 5 times) and secondary to enucleation/evisceration were associated with good surgical outcome. Cryopreserved ultra-thick human amniotic membrane is an ideal material for the management of anophthalmic socket contracture.
Keywords: Amniotic membrane; cryopreserved human amniotic membrane; mucous membrane graft; short fornix; socket contracture.