Socket Inflammation and Infection

Abstract

Although an anophthalmic socket is by definition “without an eye,” all of the major supportive tissues for both eye and socket health typically remain behind after surgery. These include the eyelids and Meibomian glands, the palpebral and forniceal conjunctiva, the goblet cells, the glands of Krause and Wolfring, the lacrimal gland, and the nasolacrimal drainage system. In addition to performing their major natural functions, these tissues also have to adapt and tolerate the presence of a chronic foreign body, i.e., an ocular prosthesis, in patients who have been rehabilitated after eye removal. Retention of a comfortable and cosmetically appealing prosthesis is a key concern of patients with anophthalmic sockets. However, complaints of watering, discharge, and pain are not uncommon and may originate from both socket inflammation and infection. Rarely, uncontrolled socket inflammation may result in the growth of pyogenic granulomas which render prosthesis wear difficult or exposure of the underlying ocular implant which may become secondarily infected and require surgical removal.