Primary implant placement with evisceration in patients with endophthalmitis

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of primary orbital implant placement with evisceration in patients with endophthalmitis and blind eyes.

Design: Retrospective noncomparative case series.

Participants: Eleven patients with endophthalmitis and blind eyes underwent evisceration by two surgeons between 1994 and 1998.

Intervention: Evisceration and primary orbital implant placement.

Main outcome measures: All patients were evaluated for implant exposure and successful fitting of their prostheses.

Results: Ten of 11 patients had uneventful postoperative courses and successful prosthetic fitting. One patient with Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis had an implant exposure successfully treated with a fascia lata patch.

Conclusions: Primary orbital implant placement with evisceration in patients with endophthalmitis is an acceptable treatment, eliminating the need for open evisceration and subsequent delayed orbital implant placement.