Implants placed in the eye during the prosthetic eye are kept in their sockets for 1 month after the operation, with the eye closed. In this process, the healing process continues in the eye socket as a part of the body. One month later, the eyelids are opened and the development of the eye surface is checked. The healing process is adversely affected by infection, improper shape, size and type of implants, and surgical interventions with inappropriate technique, and the eye does not accept and discards the newly placed implant. This expulsion may be in the form of opening the front of the implant, or it may be in the form of complete expulsion of the implant. In this process, it is necessary to evaluate the shape, type and size of the implant and to interpret the characteristics of the patient’s current eye socket well. Within the current findings, the implant can be revised and a new implant can be used. At this stage, mucosa taken from the mouth and palate or fat tissues taken from the hip or belly can be used.
Dr. The 3 most frequently asked questions to Onur Konuk about implant removal treatment:
1. How do I know when implant removal has developed? What are their findings?
The findings of this picture can develop very insidiously and can sometimes be detected during routine eye examinations without any symptoms. In addition, symptoms such as excessive burrs, redness, shifting of the prosthesis to the right and left, and prosthesis coming forward may occur. When you remove the prosthesis, if you look in the mirror, a red, pink convex conjunctival surface is seen. The implant itself can be seen during the expulsion process, which usually starts from the middle of this surface.
2. What should I do if the implant is discarded?
Implant removal is an emergency. In this table, the implant in the eye socket has come into contact with the external environment. Therefore, there is a predisposition to an infection. While minor implant openings can be corrected with simpler medical and surgical procedures, more serious openings and expulsions require major surgeries. Therefore, better results are obtained with early diagnosis.
3. Can I wear an implant-free prosthesis?
After eye reduction, a volume loss of approximately 7 cc occurs in the eye. This lack of volume causes drooping of the eyelid, hollowing of the eye, and the formation of a deep groove on the upper lid. If we try to fill this volume deficiency with only a prosthesis, we will have to use a 7 cc thick and heavy prosthesis, which does not move and can cause additional valve deformity by stretching the lower lid on which it sits due to its weight. For this reason, oculoplastic surgeons use 18-20 mm spherical implants to correct this volume deficiency. Spherical implants are more difficult to reject and are more compatible with the eye. This size implant corrects the volume deficiency of approximately 5 cc. Since the implant material is light and placed in the orbit, it does not burden the eyelid. The remaining 2 cc volume deficiency is corrected with the prosthesis placed in front of this implant. In this way, we use a lightweight prosthesis that can be moved with the implant behind it.