Surgical repair of orbital fat prolapse by conjunctival fixation to the sclera

• Published in: Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) Vol. 9; no. default; pp. 1741 - 1744
• Main Authors: Nakamura, Natsuko, Akiyama, Kunihiko, Shigeyasu, Chika, Yamada, Masakazu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2015; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Adhesives; Care and treatment; Complications and side effects; Conjunctiva; Data collection; Embankments; Eye; Eyes; Fixation; Methods; Nylons; Ophthalmology; Orbitals; Original Research; Prolapse; Scars; Sclera; Surgery; Surgical techniques; Sutures; Tomography; Japan; orbital fat; surgical technique; suture; herniation; 10-0 nylon; conjunctiva
• ISSN: 1177-5467; 1177-5483; 1177-5483
• DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S91598

The aim of the study described here was to report the outcomes of surgery for orbital fat prolapse by conjunctival fixation to the sclera. Twenty-three consecutive eyes of 19 patients with orbital fat prolapse were retrospectively reviewed. All cases were treated with the same simple procedure without resection through conjunctival incision: fixation of conjunctiva to the sclera with interrupted sutures of 10-0 nylon in two rows located approximately 12-14 mm posterior to the limbus. These sutures formed an embankment to keep the prolapsed fat posteriorly. Postoperative results were determined by slit-lamp examination and recurrence of prolapse was defined as the presence of orbital fat anterior to the embankment. During the mean follow-up period of 19 months (range: 1-59 months), one case experienced recurrence which required further surgery. None of the other cases experienced recurrence, and there were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. Conjunctival fixation to the sclera was a simple and effective surgical technique for orbital fat prolapse, with less invasion compared to the conventional method that requires conjunctival incision.