Enucleation Surgery—Orbital Implants and Surgical Techniques

Abstract

Enucleation consists of surgical removal of the entire eye globe with preservation of the conjunctiva, extraocular muscles, orbital fat, and optic nerve. This surgical procedure is generally accepted treatment for intraocular malignancies, blind painful eye, severely traumatized eye, phthisis bulbi, and to improve cosmetic appearance. Once the eye is removed, orbital volume enhancement typically requires implantation of spherical materials that can be classified into two major groups: non-porous and porous orbital implants. Different surgical techniques have been described in the literature, including muscle imbrication technique and the myoconjunctival enucleation technique (both with a non-integrated implant) and the more recent integrated orbital implants technique that results in less implant-migration and improved prosthesis movement. In this review, we discuss indications, orbital implant choices and the main enucleation surgical techniques reported in the literature.