Anophthalmic Patients Treated with Eye Prosthesis at a Maxillofacial Unit in Jordan

Abstract

Objective: To study the profile of anophthalmic patients regarding age, etiology gender, and the role of the ocular prosthesis in the psycho-social support of their wearers. Methods: A total of 920 Jordanian artificial eye wearers who registered for ocular prosthesis maintenance, repair or replacement attended prosthetic eye sector referral center (King Hussian Medical Hospital), during the period from August 2009 to July 2014 were surveyed. They were divided into three age groups; 331 patients (35.98 %) were 1-13 years old children, 128 patients (13.92 %) were 1420 years old adolescents and 461 patients (50.1 %) were 21 -75 years old adults and elderly. The group comprised 410 (38.91%) females and 510 (60.09%) males. A satisfaction questionnaire were completed by them or their close relatives using a simple Arabic language to elucidate their degree of satisfaction with several parameters including; appearance, comfort, fit, irritation, degree of selfconsciousness, frequency of cleaning, and value of treatment. The percentage and frequency of mucoid discharge associated with ocular prosthesis wear was also studied. Results: Accidents were the main cause of eye loss in children and pathological conditions were more prevalent among adolescent and adult groups. The ratio of males to females losing an eye from accidents was 2.4. The overall rate of satisfaction with ocular prostheses was 89.9%. The variables significantly correlated to patient satisfaction were other people's responses, and insertion of the orbital implant; 95% of the surveyed subjects claimed that the others couldn’t notice that they are wearing an artificial eye, 99.5 % said that the lost eye affects their social well-being and using the artificial eye improved the condition which was also enhanced by peg insertion or surgical insertion of an orbital mass. Discharge affected 95.4% of wearers - 75.5% of these on a daily basis and negatively affected patient satisfaction. Conclusion: Ocular prostheses play a significant role in psycho-social support and enhance treatment satisfaction of anophthalmic patients in Jordan. Mucoid discharge associated with wearing ocular prosthesis was prevalent and needs an evidence based treatment protocol. Further research into the cause and treatment of this condition is worthy and should be planned.