ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To quantitatively compare eyebrow and eyelid positions in anophthalmic sockets reconstructed with conical or spherical orbital implants combined with customized external ocular prostheses.
METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study included 38 patients with unilateral anophthalmic sockets, of whom 21 received conical implants, and 17 received spherical implants. Eyelid and eyebrow parameters—including margin reflex distance 1 and 2, vertical and horizontal palpebral fissure dimensions, eyebrow-to-upper-eyelid margin distance in primary gaze and infraduction, medial and lateral eyelid angles in primary gaze, and superior eyelid sulcus depth —were quantitatively assessed using standardized digital photographs analyzed with Image J software. The contralateral healthy eye served as the control. Statistical analyses were performed to compare measurements between groups.
RESULTS: In the primary gaze position, conical and spherical implants showed comparable margin-reflex distance1, margin-reflex distance2, vertical palpebral fissure height, eyelid margin position, and medial and lateral eyelid angles. During infraduction, the upper eyelid margin was significantly lower in sockets reconstructed with conical implants. Compared with contralateral normal eyes, anophthalmic sockets exhibited a reduced horizontal palpebral fissure and a deeper superior eyelid sulcus, irrespective of implant shape.
CONCLUSION: Anophthalmic sockets reconstructed with conical or spherical implants demonstrate similar eyebrow and eyelid positioning in primary gaze. However, conical implants are associated with a lower eyelid margin during infraduction. Independent of implant format, anophthalmic sockets show a narrower horizontal palpebral fissure and increased superior sulcus depth compared with normal eyes.

Keywords: Anophthalmos; Prosthesis implantation; Anophthalmic socket; Conical implants; Spherical implants; Orbital implants; Eyelid measurements

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