Visual rehabilitation with keratoprosthesis after tenonplasty as the primary globe-saving procedure for severe ocular chemical injuries

Abstract

To analyze the outcome (functional and anatomic) of eyes that underwent tenonplasty as the primary globe-saving procedure in severe ocular chemical injuries (grade V-VI Dua's classification). The records of patients who underwent tenonplasty for associated scleral ischemia in severe chemical burns in our institute between October 2005 and June 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Out of 31 eyes that underwent tenonplasty, 21 belonged to grade V and VI of Dua's classification with diffuse scleral ischemia for which a four-quadrant tenonplasty was performed and only these 21 eyes were included for further analysis. The time to presentation following chemical injury, the need for revision surgeries, the time to complete epithelization, the procedures performed for ocular surface reconstruction and for visual rehabilitation and their outcome, both functional and anatomic, were analyzed. Of the 21 eyes of 13 patients, four were unilateral and nine were bilateral cases of chemical injury. The mean time to presentation following chemical injury was 14.61days. Tenonplasty with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) was performed as the primary surgery. Revision tenonplasty was required in six eyes (seven procedures), the mean time to complete epithelization of the ocular surface was 5.4±4.03months. Of the 21 eyes, three lost perception of light following phthisis, evisceration for corneal infection, and uncontrolled glaucoma. Eighteen of 21 eyes were salvaged anatomically, of which ten eyes of 13 patients underwent surgery for visual rehabilitation. Among the unilateral cases, two eyes underwent ex vivo limbal stem cell transplant (LSCT) with or without keratoplasty for further visual rehabilitation. Among the patients with bilateral burns, visual rehabilitative procedure was performed in only one eye. Modified osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (MOOKP) was performed in five eyes, Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis in two eyes, and penetrating keratoplasty with keratolimbal allograft with systemic immunosuppression in one eye. One patient with bilateral injury is awaiting Boston keratoprosthesis type 1 for one eye. Of these eight eyes (bilateral injuries), all achieved a BCVA of 20/200 or better over a mean follow-up period of 27.37±14.5months following visual rehabilitative procedure. Tenonplasty has a globe-saving role in eyes with severe chemical injuries with associated scleral ischemia, by accelerating the healing process. Further on, these eyes can undergo visual rehabilitative procedures and our results highlight the feasibility of achieving a good functional outcome following anatomical stability. The role of tenonplasty to salvage the eye in the initial management of chemical injury, the need for multiple surgeries, close follow-up, and monitoring of intraocular pressure prior to and after procedures for visual rehabilitation cannot be underemphasized.