Rehabilitation of pediatric retinoblastoma patients with ocular prostheses and their subsequent modifications: A 15-year retrospective study.

PURPOSE: Enucleation is a common treatment modality performed for pediatric retinoblastoma patients, and the resultant defects are reconstructed using an ocular prosthesis. The prostheses are modified or replaced periodically, as the child develops due to orbital growth and patient-error. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the replacement frequency of prostheses in the pediatric oncologic population. METHODS: A retrospective review was completed by the two senior research investigators, of patients that had ocular prostheses fabricated following enucleation of their retinoblastoma from 2005 to 2019 (n = 90). Data collected from the medical records of the patient included the pathology, date of surgery, date of prosthesis delivery, and the replacement schedule of the ocular prosthesis. RESULTS: During the 15-year study period, 78 enucleated observations (ocular prosthesis fabricated) were included for analysis. The median age of the patients at the time of delivery of their first ocular prosthesis was calculated to be 2.6 years (range 0.3-18 years). The median time to the first modification of the prosthesis was calculated to be 6 months. The time to modification of the ocular prosthesis was further stratified by age. CONCLUSION: Pediatric patients require modification of their ocular prostheses throughout their growth and development period. Ocular prostheses are reliable prostheses with predictable outcomes. This data is helpful to set an expectation among the patient, parent, and provider.

Prevalence of anophthalmia etiological factors in patients treated in a reference center: A retrospective study.

Background: Ocular prosthesis rehabilitation has an important social, psychological, esthetic, and functional role. Congenital factors, trauma, and tumors, among others, can cause anophthalmia, and it is essential to identify the etiology to guide its prevention and treatment. Methods: The aim of this study was to retrospectively investigate the records of patients treated from 2013 to 2020 by the Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthesis Group, aiming to identify the prevalence of patients with anophthalmia and the etiology of their anophthalmia. After approval by the Human Research Ethics Committee, two calibrated researchers evaluated 520 records, identifying those from patients with anophthalmia. The inclusion criteria were records with complete and legible information from patients with anophthalmia and a description of their etiology. Descriptive statistics were performed, and etiological factors were categorized into trauma, congenital cause, end-stage eye disease, and tumor. Spearman's correlation was performed to verify the relation between gender and anophthalmia etiology, with a 5% significance level. Seventy-two records were included in the study. Results: It was observed that 33.4% of patients were women and 66.6% were men. The etiologies were physical trauma (52.4%), tumor (21.8%), end-stage eye disease (16.6%), and congenital cause (9.2%), and there was no correlation between gender and these etiologies (p = .301). Conclusion: Most of the cases identified were of traumatic origin, which allows the establishment of preventive and educational measures to avoid new cases of anophthalmia.

Cytotoxicity of cleaning agents for ocular prostheses.

BACKGROUND: Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is the most used material for the manufacturing of eye prostheses. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the cytotoxicity of different cleaning agents for ocular prostheses on human conjunctival cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Six groups of specimens were created (saline, soap, 4% chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, 1% triclosan, and citronella oil). Three specimens were made for each disinfectant at each disinfection period (1, 7, 15, 30, 60, and 90 days), totaling 108 specimens. Thus, the specimens were disinfected, with different disinfectants, for different periods of time. After each disinfection process, the specimens were washed with sterile distilled water. A human conjunctival cell line was grown on the acrylic resin specimens and then cytotoxicity tests (MTT and Neutral Red (NR)) were performed. A negative control (untreated cell cultures) and positive control (Tween 20) were created. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni test were performed (p < 0.05). RESULTS: For the MTT and NR tests, when there was a significant difference between the disinfectant and negative control, the disinfectant generated a significant reduction in cell proliferation most of the time. CONCLUSIONS: All reductions in cell proliferation caused by the disinfectants were clinically acceptable. All disinfectants tested in this study were found to be non-cytotoxic to human conjunctival cells.

An alternative technique by using digital photography and UV printing for fabricating a custom made ocular prosthesis.

A person becomes disabled when they lose any of their sensory organs, the eye being one of the most delicate. Loss of an eye can happen due to different reasons and can be restored using different materials and strategies. Ocular defects and congenital deformations show up as a result of tumors or injury. For the most part, fabricated eyes are accessible as ocular prostheses. This method describes how to create a custom ocular prosthesis using a digital photo and UV printing. The greatest esthetically pleasing results are also achieved using this production method, which does not necessitate painting or color-selecting expertise. Both psychologically and esthetically, the patient was satisfied.

Opto-Mechanical Eye Models, a Review on Human Vision Applications and Perspectives for Use in Industry.

The purpose of this review is to aggregate technical information on existent optomechanical eye models (OME) described in the literature, for image quality assessment in different applications. Several physical eye models have been reviewed from peer-reviewed papers and patent applications. A typical eye model includes an artificial cornea, an intraocular lens or other lens to simulate the crystalline lens, an aperture as the pupil, and a posterior retinal surface, which may be connected to a light sensor. The interior of the eye model may be filled with a fluid to better emulate physiological conditions. The main focus of this review is the materials and physical characteristics used and the dimensional aspects of the main components including lenses, apertures, chambers, imaging sensors and filling medium. Various devices are described with their applications and technical details, which are systematically tabulated highlighting their main characteristics and applications. The models presented are detailed and discussed individually, and the features of different models are compared when applicable, highlighting strengths and limitations. In the end there is a brief discussion about the potential use of artificial eye models for industrial applications.

Psychological aspects of living with an artificial eye.

PURPOSE: Artificial eye clinics address physical and aesthetic aspects of orbital prostheses, but psychological effects may not be formally addressed. In general, without effective coping mechanisms, stress can lead to anxiety and depression. This study aims to determine, in the context of having an artificial eye, whether coping strategies, as well as perception of illness and other demographic and clinical variables are associated with anxiety or depression. METHODS: Consecutive patients attending two artificial eye clinics were invited to participate in this audit. Participants completed questionnaires: HADS, Brief IPQ and Brief COPE. Variables with a correlation coefficient of ≥0.2 with anxiety or depression were included in regression modeling. The extent to which the participants' emotional and cognitive representations of their artificial eye related to feelings of anxiety and depression was determined. RESULTS: In the cohort of 208, clinically significant anxiety was present in 29.5% and clinically significant depression was present in 8.4%. Perceptions of the impact of the artificial eye and self-blame as a coping strategy were correlated with anxiety. Depression levels were higher when participants believed that their artificial eye had a greater impact on their life, when they lived alone, and when they used substances as a coping strategy. CONCLUSION: Significant levels of anxiety exist in those living with artificial eyes, with various coping strategies used. Addressing this and offering alternative coping strategies may improve patient well being and overall satisfaction.

Características clínicas y evolutivas de pacientes rehabilitados con prótesis oculares / Clinical and evolutive characteristics of patients rehabilitated with ocular prosthesis

Introducción: La prótesis ocular es un medio artificial con fines funcional y estético, que posibilita la rehabilitación física, psíquica y social de pacientes con defectos en los ojos. Objetivo: Describir la evolución de los pacientes con prótesis ocular según signos de infección en las cavidades oculares rehabilitadas, factores de riesgos asociados, así como modificaciones en la forma de la cavidad y/o en la prótesis ocular. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, longitudinal y prospectivo de 74 pacientes aquejados por defectos oculares, que recibieron tratamiento protésico en el período de 2018 a 2019 en la Clínica de Rehabilitación Bucomaxilofacial de Santiago de Cuba, los cuales fueron evaluados a través de una encuesta y un examen clínico en tres momentos durante un año de evolución. Para establecer la asociación entre variables, se emplearon la prueba de la Χ2 de Pearson y la exacta de Fisher de acuerdo con el cumplimiento de supuestos. Resultados: De los 222 exámenes efectuados a las cavidades oculares rehabilitadas, 31 revelaron la presencia de secreciones en 23 pacientes, con recurrencia en 8 de ellos; dicho signo clínico se manifestó de manera similar a la hipercoloración de la conjuntiva en cuanto al momento del hallazgo y al grupo etario afectado, con mayores porcentajes al año de evolución y una incidencia superior en los pacientes de 60 y más años de edad. Asimismo, se constató una asociación estadísticamente significativa de las variables higiene diaria de la cavidad y de la prótesis con la existencia de secreciones, para un intervalo de confianza de 95 %. Conclusiones: Se demostró la ventaja del aseo semanal de la cavidad ocular y de la prótesis en sus portadores, pues con ello se disminuye la frecuencia de los signos inflamatorios e infecciosos de la mucosa, lo que debe observarse con mayor rigurosidad en los ancianos, quienes resultan ser los más afectados.

Introduction: Ocular prosthesis is an artificial means with functional and cosmetic ends that facilitates the physical, psychic and social rehabilitation of patients with eyes defects. Objective: To describe the evolution of patients with ocular prosthesis according to infection signs in the rehabilitated ocular cavities, associated risk factors, as well as modifications in the form of the cavity and/or in the ocular prosthesis Methods: An observational, longitudinal and prospective study of 74 patients suffering from eye defects that received prosthetist treatment from 2018 to 2019 in the oral maxillofacial Rehabilitation Clinic was carried out in Santiago de Cuba, who were evaluated through a survey and a clinical exam in three moments during a year of evolution. To establish the association between variables, the Pearson chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used with the fulfillment of suppositions. Results: Of the 222 exams made to the rehabilitated ocular cavities, 31 revealed the presence of secretions in 23 patients, with recurrence in 8 of them; this clinical sign became evident in a similar way to the hypercoloring of the conjunctiva as for the moment of the finding and the age group affected, with higher percentages at the year of evolution and a higher incidence in the patients of 60 years and over. Also, an association statistically significant of the daily hygiene of the cavity and prosthesis variables with the existence of secretions was verified, for a confidence interval of 95 %. Conclusions: The advantage of the ocular cavity and prosthesis weekly personal cleanliness was demonstrated, because with it the frequency of the inflammatory and infectious signs of the mucous is reduced, what should be strictly observed in elderly, who are the most affected.

A review of techniques of iris replication and a novel method of fabrication of ocular prosthesis using two different iris location methods.

Anophthalmic patients suffer from social, functional, and emotional agony. The role of a maxillofacial prosthodontist is to restore this loss and to restore the self-esteem of such patients. Fabrication of a prosthesis for the anophthalmic cavity can be successful with the judicious use of the materials, the vision, and the skill of the prosthodontist. This article describes various techniques used for iris replication and a novel method to locate the iris, which is the most crucial step to fabricate a natural gaze.

[Bionic eye prostheses as a means of rehabilitation in case of the loss of both eyes]. / Bionicheskie glaznye protezy kak sredstvo reabilitatsii pri potere oboikh glaznykh yablok.

Currently, there are no effectively working devices for self-orientation of the blind (including those who have lost their eyes anatomically). PURPOSE: To develop a device for helping people with no eyes orient themselves by analyzing the brightness of the light surrounding the user and recording the preserved activity of the oculomotor muscles. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The described device is intended for environmental orientation of blind people who have lost both eye organs anatomically. It consists of the following elements: 1) a video camera with glasses and an information analysis unit (computer with transmitting devices); 2) an eye prosthesis in which microcircuits and a power source are sealed. The user receives the information received by the video camera and the correspondingly processed information by supplying short-term electrical pulses from the electrodes situated on the back surface of the prosthesis. RESULTS: In laboratory conditions, the devices allowed registration of - as example - the direction of a light source coming from the window in a room or a passing car. CONCLUSION: The device will become available for intended usage after carrying out all the prescribed tests and registering in accordance with the established procedures.

Digital photographic technique for the production of an artificial eye.

The use of hand painting an iris button using oil paint remains the conventional method of artificial eye manufacturing. The authors found that replacing this technique with a digital photograph taken of a patient's unaffected eye offers several advantages over the conventional method but the process from capture to print must be standardised and colour accurate. The authors of this paper suggest a tried and tested formulated photographic process of capture and printing prior to polymerisation. It discusses issues that can arise and how these can be overcome in order to achieve a high-quality print that can be used to produce a 'life like' ocular prosthesis.

A Pilot Clinical Study of Ocular Prosthesis Fabricated by Three-dimensional Printing and Sublimation Technique.

PURPOSE: We sought to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of patient-specific ocular prostheses produced by three-dimensional (3D) printing and the sublimation technique. A comparison with prostheses produced using manual manufacturing methods was then performed. METHODS: To confirm the biological and physiochemical safety, cytotoxicity, systemic acute toxicity, intradermal reaction, and skin sensitization tests were conducted according to the International Organization for Standardization guidelines. The compressive strength of the prostheses was also tested. Further, a case series of three patients who wore the 3D printed prostheses for more than eight hours daily for 4 weeks was executed. Self-assessments by these individuals using a questionnaire and safety evaluations focusing on the occurrence of conjunctival inflammation or allergic reactions according to the Cornea and Contact Lens Research Unit criteria by slit-lamp examination and similarity assessment were completed. RESULTS: The 3D printed ocular prostheses met the necessary qualifications per the biological and physiochemical safety tests, showing the absence of cytotoxicity, acute systemic toxicity, intradermal reactivity, and skin-sensitizing potency. Also, there was no difference in strength test results between previous ocular prostheses and the 3D printed ones. Self-assessment by the patients yielded satisfactory results, with no significant difference in the level of satisfaction reported for the 3D printed and previous handmade ocular prostheses. The 3D printed prosthesis did not trigger any side effects in the conjunctival sac and showed similar objective findings with respect to the color of the iris, sclera, and vessel patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms the biologic and physiochemical safety of 3D-printed ocular prostheses created using computer-aided design technology and a sublimation technique. The patients' questionnaires and the judgment of the ophthalmologists/ocularists showed that the 3D printed ocular prosthesis was acceptable in function and appearance through a case series report.

Rehabilitation of unilateral loss of eye with customized ocular prosthesis: Case series.

A patient who is suffering from complete loss of one eye or one phthisical eye due to injury, inflammation, or tumor experiences lot of physical and psychological trauma. Ocular prostheses are used in the management of a wide variety of acquired and congenital anopthalmia. Several techniques have been used in fitting and fabricating artificial eyes. These eyes can be prefabricated or custom made, but a prosthesis that is lifelike in appearance provides a sense of psychological security to the patient, which is better achieved with custom ocular prosthesis. This article discusses series of cases made by utilizing one of the latest techniques of iris duplication (digital imaging) and also aims at enhanced awareness of the cosmetic benefits of custom designed ocular prosthesis when compared with stock eye.

Incidental Hydroxyapatite Ocular Implant Uptake on Bone Scan Done for Prostate Cancer Staging: Case Report and Brief Review

A 74-year-old man recently diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer with high serum prostate specific antigen was referred to nuclear medicine for a technetium-99m-methylene diphosphonate (Tc-99m MDP) bone scan. On delayed three-hour anterior planar image, an unexpected round focus of intense uptake was found overlying the right orbit. Single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography localized the uptake to an ocular prosthesis. The hydroxyapatite composition of the ocular implant can be recognized by its bone-like density and its intense accumulation of Tc-99m MDP. Review of the patient's history revealed remote right eye evisceration secondary to a complication of cataract surgery, consistent with the findings.

Can Nonthermal Plasma Improve the Adhesion between Acrylic Resin for Ocular Prostheses and Silicone-Based Relining Material?

PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of nonthermal plasma (NTP) treatment on the tensile bond strength between heat-polymerized acrylic resin for ocular prostheses and silicone reliner, with and without the use of an adhesive primer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One-hundred and sixty-four acrylic resin specimens were fabricated and randomly distributed into four groups according to the type of surface treatment: Sofreliner Primer, NTP, Sofreliner Primer + NTP, and NTP + Sofreliner Primer. Two specimens interposed with relining material (Sofreliner) formed one test sample to perform the tensile bond strength tests, before (initial) and after storage (final) in saline solution (37°C, 90 days, n = 10). Surface characterization was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The failure type was classified as cohesive, adhesive, or mixed. The data were analyzed statistically using the two-way ANOVA and Tukey test, as well as the chi-squared test (α = 0.05), Bonferroni correction (α = 0.005), and Spearman correlation coefficient (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The SEM and EDS analyses showed the presence of a thin, homogenous organic film in the groups treated with NTP. The NTP + Sofreliner Primer group presented the largest bond strength mean values in the initial period (p < 0.05). Sofreliner Primer and NTP + Sofreliner Primer groups presented the first and second largest tensile bond strength mean values in the final period (p < 0.05), respectively. NTP + Sofreliner Primer group also had the largest number of cohesive (70%, initial) and mixed (90%, final) failures. CONCLUSIONS: The NTP treatment performed before the primer application enhanced the bond between the acrylic resin ocular prosthesis and the Sofreliner silicone-based reliner, even after 90 days of immersion in saline solution.

Fabrication of ocular prosthesis with a digital customization technique - A case report.

Loss of an eye can be caused by cancer, trauma, or congenital defects. A loss of eye creates functional, esthetic, and psychological lacunae in individual's personal and professional life. Rehabilitation of ocular defect can be done by a custom ocular prosthesis fabricated with heat cure polymethylmethacrylate. The custom-made prosthesis provides a better fit, is more comfortable to use and gives better cosmetic results than a stock prosthesis. The main objective of this article is to describe a new technique of customization using digital photograph of the patient's iris made using a digital camera to give excellent cosmetic results to the patient.

Reabilitação de paciente anoftálmico bilateral por meio de prótese ocular: relato de caso / Rehabilitación de paciente anoftálmico bilateral por medio de prótesis ocular: relato de caso / Rehabilitation of bilateral anoftálmic patient by eye prosthesis: case report

Introdução: A prótese ocular visa à reparação aloplástica das perdas ou deformidades do bulbo ocular, tendo por objetivos recuperar a estética facial; prevenir o colapso e a deformidade palpebral; proteger a cavidade anoftálmica contra agressões por poeira, fumaça ou poluentes; restaurar a direção da secreção lacrimal e prevenir o acúmulo deste fluido na cavidade evitando as alterações assimétricas que progressivamente se instalam. Objetivo: relatar um caso clínico de reabilitação de paciente anoftálmico bilateral por meio de prótese ocular. Material e método: Para a realização do procedimento, a cavidade anoftálmica do paciente foi moldada com alginato. Esse molde foi incluído em mufla para obtenção da esclera artificial em Resina Acrílica Ocular Termicamente Ativada (RAOTA) cor N2. A esclera obtida foi provada no paciente e recebeu os ajustes necessários. Em seguida, foi realizada a centralização da pupila, feito o platô e pintada a íris artificial, que foi colada sobre o platô. Toda a superfície da esclera recebeu caracterização e o conjunto foi recoberto com RAOTA incolor. Por fim, a prótese recebeu acabamento, polimento, e foi instalada. O paciente foi instruído quanto ao uso e higienização. Resultado: Foi observado que após a instalação da prótese, a estética facial do indivíduo foi restaurada, o suporte palpebral restabelecido e o direcionamento lacrimal corrigido, além da reinserção do indivíduo ao convívio social. Conclusão: o tratamento reabilitador atingiu seu objetivo de restaurar a estética facial e foi de grande importância para o paciente, pois o mesmo resgatou a autoestima e pôde retornar ao convívio social sem constrangimentos(AU)

Introduction: The ocular prosthesis aims at the alloplastic repair of the losses or deformities of the ocular bulb, aiming to recover the facial esthetics; prevent collapse and eyelid deformity; protect the anophthalmic cavity against aggression from dust, smoke or pollutants; restore the direction of lacrimal secretion and prevent the accumulation of this fluid in the cavity avoiding the asymmetric changes that progressively install. Objective: to report a clinical case of rehabilitation of bilateral anophthalmic patient by ocular prosthesis. Material and method: To perform the procedure, the patient's anophthalmic cavity was cast with alginate. This template was included in muffle to obtain artificial sclera in thermally activated ocular acrylic resin (RAOTA) color N2. The obtained sclera was tested on the patient and received the necessary adjustments. Afterwards, the pupil was centralized, made the plateau and painted the artificial iris, which was glued on the plateau. The entire surface of the sclera was characterized and the whole was covered with colorless RAOTA. Finally, the prosthesis was finished, polished, and installed. The patient was instructed in the use and hygiene. Results: It was observed that after the installation of the prosthesis, the individual's facial aesthetics were restored, the eyelid support was restored and the corrected lacrimal targeting was performed, as well as the reinsertion of the individual into social interaction. Conclusion: the rehabilitation treatment reached its goal of restoring the facial aesthetics and was of great importance for the patient, since it rescued the self-esteem and was able to return to the social life without constraints(AU)

Introducción: La prótesis ocular se refiere a la reparación aloplástica de las pérdidas o deformidades del bulbo ocular, teniendo como objetivo recuperar la estética facial; prevenir el colapso y la deformidad palpebral; proteger la cavidad anoftálmica contra agresiones por polvo, humo o contaminantes; restaurar la dirección de la secreción lagrimal y prevenir la acumulación de este fluido en la cavidad evitando los cambios asimétricos que progresivamente se instalan. Objetivo: relatar un caso clínico de rehabilitación de paciente anoftálmico bilateral por medio de prótesis oculares. Material y método: Para la realización del procedimiento, la cavidad anoftálmica del paciente fue moldeada con alginato. Este molde fue incluido en mufla para la obtención de la esclera artificial en Resina Acrílica Ocular Termalmente Activada (RAOTA) color N2. La esclera obtenida fue probada en el paciente y recibió los ajustes necesarios. A continuación, se realizó la centralización de la pupila, hecha la meseta y pintada el iris artificial, que fue pegada sobre la meseta. Toda la superficie de la esclera recibió caracterización y el conjunto fue recubierto con RAOTA incoloro. Por último, la prótesis recibió el acabado, pulido, y se instaló. El paciente fue instruido en cuanto al uso e higienización. Resultado: Se observó que después de la instalación de la prótesis, la estética facial del individuo fue restaurada, el soporte palpebral restablecido y el direccionamiento lagrimal corregido, además de la reinserción del individuo a la convivencia social. Conclusión: el tratamiento rehabilitador alcanzó su objetivo de restaurar la estética facial y fue de gran importancia para el paciente, pues el mismo rescató la autoestima y pudo regresar a la convivencia social sin limitaciones(AU)

[Tumors of the paranasal sinus invading the orbit]. / Tumoren der Nasennebenhöhlen mit Übergreifen auf die Orbita.

Invasion of the orbit by tumors of the paranasal sinus represents an advanced state of disease. Prognosis has hardly improved in recent decades, despite multimodal therapeutic approaches. Complete resection of the tumor still remains the most promising therapy. Orbital exenteration implies a dramatic event for the patient's psyche and quality of life. If the eye that would have to be exenterated is the only one remaining with sufficient vision, exenteration should be abandoned in consensus with the patient. Aesthetic improvements following exenteration can be achieved by surgical and prosthetic techniques. The method of prosthesis fixation needs to be determined with respect to the patients' individual expectations and manual abilities. The main aspects of functional rehabilitation are good local cleanability and sufficient nasal breathing without encrusted mucus, which can be achieved by restoring the natural laminar airflow. Tumors of the paranasal sinus with orbital invasion represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The information regarding prognosis, therapeutic approaches, post-therapeutic quality of life, and rehabilitation options should be thoroughly discussed by patients and therapists prior to treatment.

Helcococcus ovis in a patient with an artificial eye: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Helcococcus ovis, belonging to the genus of Helcococcu in Peptostreptococcaceae, is one kind of facultative anaerobic and gram-positive cocci, which was first isolated from a mixed infection in sheep in 1999. To our knowledge, it's known as an invasive pathogen in animals, and never been reported as a human pathogen in published literature. The aims of this work are to describe the first report of H. ovis which was recovered from the artificial eye of human case and perform a literature review. CASE PRESENTATION: A 26 year-old man reporting pyogenic infection with an artificial eye attended ophthalmic ward in Tongji hospital. After physical examination, clinical and laboratory investigations, the diagnosis of eye infection caused by Helcococcus ovis and Staphylococcus aureus was established. Receiving a medico-surgical approach, the patient was successfully treated. The treatment consisted in intravenous cefotaxime and ornidazole, levofloxacin eye drops during two weeks and removing of right artificial eye with debridement. CONCLUSIONS: We describe here the first known case of H. ovis which was recovered from human artificial eye. This report different from previous data found in the literature emphasizes the invasive potential of this bacterial species as a pathogen in human. Prospectively, the application of next generation sequencing tools would contribute to a more accurate classification of clinical strains.

Evaluation of the Northern Ireland National Artificial Eye Service: A Regional Audit of Patient and Prosthetic Characteristics.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to establish an up-to-date baseline of the profile of patients using the National Artificial Eye Service in Northern Ireland and to understand key areas of service provision, to contribute to patient and health-care provider education, and thus to improve patient outcomes for future researchers. METHODS: A prospective audit of artificial eye wearers attending the Northern Ireland National Artificial Eye Service between May 18, 2015 and June 26, 2015 was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 131 patients, who attended consecutively for appointments over the 6-week period, were included: males 68%; females 32%. The majority of eyes were lost secondary to trauma (54%). In recent decades, medical causes have now taken over as the primary referral cause for prosthetic eyes. Approximately, one-third of patients attending the service required further education on how to maintain the hygiene of their ocular prosthesis. CONCLUSION: Patients attending artificial eye services should be further educated about using lubricants to maintain the hygiene of their prosthesis. Primary care health professionals (General Medical Practitioners and Primary Care Optometrists) should be informed about artificial eye services and of how to contact the service for advice if required. Trauma remains the most common cause for referral; however, in recent decades more patients are attending secondary to a medical cause of eye loss. Health service providers should be aware of the changing profile of patients attending artificial eye services and of the medical and traumatic causes of eye loss.

Concerns of anophthalmic patients-a comparison between cryolite glass and polymethyl methacrylate prosthetic eye wearers.

PURPOSE: To compare the concerns of experienced cryolite glass and (poly)methyl methacrylate (PMMA) prosthetic eye wearers. METHODS: One hundred six experienced cryolite glass and 63 experienced PMMA prosthetic eye wearers completed an anonymous questionnaire regarding general and specific prosthetic eye concerns at least 2 years after natural eye loss. From these independent anophthalmic populations, we identified 34 case-control pairs matched for the known influencing demographic variables of gender, occupation, age, and time since natural eye loss. RESULTS: The levels of concern were significantly lower in the cryolite glass group than those in the PMMA group for the following: loss of balance (p < 0.001), phantom sight vision (p < 0.001), pain (p < 0.001), receiving good advice (p = 0.001), fullness of orbit (p = 0.001), size (p = 0.007), direction of gaze relative to the healthy fellow eye (p = 0.005), eye lid contour (p = 0.037), comfort of the prosthetic eye (p < 0.001), colour relative to the healthy fellow eye (p < 0.001), and retention of the prosthetic eye (p < 0.001). Concerns about watering, crusting, discharge, visual perception, appearance, movement of the prosthetic eye, and health of the remaining eye were not significantly different between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that many general and specific levels of concern were significantly lower for cryolite glass prosthetic eye wearers than for PMMA prosthetic eye wearers. The question of why there are significant differences and to what extent the material of the prosthesis (cryolite glass or PMMA) has an impact on various concerns remains unanswered and should be addressed in a prospective comparative multicentre trial.