Intraorbital polyacrylamide gel injection for the treatment of anophthalmic enophthalmos.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of orbital polyacrylamide gel injection for the correction of anophthalmic enophthalmos.

METHODS

Noncontrolled clinical trial of 21 patients (14 with ocular implants, 5 with phthisis bulbi, and 2 with dermis-fat graft). Orbital CT was performed to estimate the volume of polyacrylamide gel needed to restore orbital volume. Polyacrylamide gel was injected using a 22-gauge (30 x 0.7 mm) needle transcutaneously inserted in the lateral third of the lower eyelid, directed to the orbital muscle cone. A second injection was administered 15 days later, if necessary. CT was repeated 30 days after the last procedure. Exophthalmometry was performed before and 90 days after the procedure.

RESULTS

The mean total volume injected per orbit was 2.4 +/- 0.7 ml (range, 1-3.5 ml). The volume of the enophthalmic orbit increased from 26.9 +/- 5.0 ml to 29.3 +/- 4.9 ml (p < 0.001). The mean difference in exophthalmometry readings was 3.3 +/- 1.6 mm (range, 1.5-8.0 mm) before the procedure and 1.0 +/- 0.9 mm (range, 0.0-3.0 mm) after 3 months (p < 0.001). Adjustment of the ocular prosthesis or fabrication of a new one was necessary in 11 patients (52.4%), and the mean volume of the ocular prosthesis was reduced from 2.0 +/- 0.6 ml to 1.6 +/- 0.6 ml (p = 0.003). All patients were satisfied with the aesthetic results. No serious adverse events were observed. The initial results were maintained 1 year after the procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Polyacrylamide gel injection in the orbital space effectively reduces enophthalmos in ocular prosthesis wearers.