Orbital Implants : Review of Results obtained at the Moorfields Branch of the Moorfields, Westminster and Central Eye Hospital, London

ENUCLEATION of an eye is likely to remain one of the commoner ophthalmic procedures. Out of approximately 4,000 operations performed at the Moorfields branch of the Moorfields, Westminster and Central Eye Hospital in 1950, 200 were for excision of an eye. A number of these were blind, painful eyes-thrombotic glaucoma, for example-in elderly people, in whom cosmetic considerations would be satisfied by an ordinary painted shell for the socket. These patients were commonly very grateful for the operation. Many of the remaining eyes were excised either after severe injury resulting in a disorganized and possibly dangerous globe, or for choroidal sarcoma. Here the patients not only lose what may well be a good seeing eye, but they are also much concerned with their post-operative appearance. Many of these patients are young, with their careers before them, and their future could well be affected by having an obviously false eye.