Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Ocular defects caused by trauma, anomalies, or surgery significantly affect vision and appearance, and indwelling ocular prostheses offer long-term cosmetic and psychological rehabilitation by restoring facial symmetry and self-esteem. This case report details the fabrication of a custom right indwelling ocular prosthesis for an Indian patient post-enucleation, emphasizing personalized rehabilitation using locally available materials and techniques within a resource-limited setting. A 43-year-old Male with a history of right eye enucleation due to retinoblastoma presented for replacement of a six-year-old ocular prosthesis that no longer fit satisfactorily, despite previously being well-tolerated without complications. The patient, having worn an ocular prosthesis for nearly six years, opted for anatomical retention over peg implant retention after a thorough discussion of treatment options, visual assessment of the anophthalmic socket, explanation of the multi-step procedure, and provision of informed consent. The patient's previous ocular prosthesis guided the selection of an appropriate impression tray, after which a detailed impression of the eye socket was taken using alginate, duplicated in silicone putty, and used to fabricate a wax scleral pattern that simulated the companion eye. The ocular prosthesis was fabricated using the reverse curing method for acrylic resin, followed by meticulous trimming, coloration with custom pigments and red wool for vascular simulation, and finalized with a second heat cure using clear PMMA to replicate corneal translucency and ensure accurate aesthetic matching with the natural eye. The finished ocular prosthesis was delivered and fitted to the patient, who expressed satisfaction with its comfort and aesthetics, received hygiene and handling instructions, and was placed on a structured follow-up schedule to monitor adaptation and address any issues. This case demonstrates that with patient-centered planning and available materials, a custom ocular prosthesis can provide durable, cost-effective, and psychologically beneficial rehabilitation in resource-limited settings.
Source: Journal of Medicine in AFrica
DOI: 10.4314/joma.v8i2.6
Language: English
Subfield: Ophthalmology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7172016175