Reconstruction of the partially contracted ocular socket or fornix
J. W. Karesh and A. M. Putterman
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Maryland, Baltimore 21201.
Foreshortening of the conjunctival fornices by symblepharon or scar
formation can result in a variety of cosmetic and functional abnormalities
for the anophthalmic and the sighted patient. To correct this problem, we
have modified a technique for the treatment of totally contracted ocular
sockets. Unlike the procedure for total reconstruction of the socket that
uses a custom-designed conformer wrapped with a full-thickness mucous
membrane graft, reconstruction of a partially contracted socket uses a
0.5-mm-thick mucous membrane graft sutured to the resected socket
conjunctiva and splinted in place by a custom-designed conformer. Seventeen
patients with a variety of underlying pathologic conditions associated with
trauma and prior surgery underwent successful ocular fornix reconstruction
using this technique.
