Reconstruction of contracted eye socket with amniotic membrane graft.

Purpose: To investigate the use of amniotic membrane graft for socket reconstruction in cases in which forniceal shortening by scar or symblepharon formation has made it difficult to successfully wear an ocular prosthesis.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 20 contracted eye sockets that underwent forniceal reconstruction with amniotic membrane graft from 1997 to 2001.

Results: There were 8 male and 12 female patients, with an age range between 2 and 66 years. Duration of forniceal shortening varied from 2 months to 48 years. The operation was performed in the lower fornix in 13 eyes, upper fornix in 1 eye, and both fornices in 6 eyes. The mean follow-up period was 13.6 months. Eighty percent of cases achieved successful prosthetic fitting after surgery. Four eyes had recurrent forniceal shortening after surgery in which a prosthesis could not be properly fitted. There were no serious complications, such as infection or graft rejection.

Conclusions: The use of amniotic membrane grafts can be a useful option in forniceal reconstruction with a high success rate, a low rate of complications, and without discomfort of donor sites.