Purpose: To perform a comprehensive review of dermis fat graft (DFG) in socket reconstruction and illustrate the technical nuances and outcomes using a retrospective case review. Methods: A literature search of 143 texts was reviewed. A retrospective case series of 34 patients following primary or secondary DFG after enucleation at a single institution (2009–2019) was performed. Clinical outcomes were statistically analyzed. Variables investigated included age, sex, race, surgical indication, muscle reattachment, complications, motility, eyelid position, prosthesis fit, and need for additional surgery. Results: The history of DFG, use in socket reconstruction, primary and secondary indications, and surgical techniques are described. Thirty-two adults and 2 pediatric cases of DFG were reviewed; 18.75% indications were primary and 81.25% were secondary. Good eyelid position was observed in 83.3% of patients with primary DFG versus 37.5% with secondary DFG (p = 0.07). Postoperative complications occurred in 58.8% of patients, were typically mild, and resolved with minimal or no intervention. No statistically significant differences were found between occurrence of any particular complication in primary versus secondary DFG placement (p = 0.36) or between primary and secondary DFG placement and the need for additional surgery (p = 1.0). Among the 67.7% patients who had implant exposure or extrusion as an indication for DFG, 39.1% required additional surgery within 2 years. Advanced age was not associated with higher complication rates (p = 0.12). Conclusions: DFG is an excellent option for socket reconstruction, particularly in cases involving pediatric patients, complicated orbits, history of multiple previous surgeries, and inflamed, contracted, or scarred sockets.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of a frontalis muscle flap eyelid reanimation technique for correction of severe congenital ptosis and associated amblyopia in infants. Methods: The authors performed a retrospective chart review of patients 12 months of age or younger with unilateral or bilateral congenital ptosis and associated amblyopia or deemed at high risk for amblyopia due to visual deprivation. Following ptosis repair via a frontalis muscle flap technique, primary outcomes of postoperative eyelid position and amblyopia reversal were assessed. Results: Seventeen eyes of 12 participants were included for study. Seven of these patients had simple congenital ptosis, and the remainder had ptosis as part of a syndrome. Nine were diagnosed with amblyopia preoperatively, and the remaining 3 were too young for acuity testing but had occlusion of the visual axis by the ptotic eyelid in primary gaze. Postoperatively, the mean margin-to-reflex distance 1 was 2.4 mm (range: 0.0–4.0), and 9 patients (75%) demonstrated no evidence of amblyopia. Only 2 patients had eyelid asymmetry greater than 2 mm, which in both cases was due to lack of frontalis activation by the patient secondary to ongoing visual impairment. The most common complication was lagophthalmos in 6 eyes (35.3%), with no significant associated surface keratopathy. Conclusions: The frontalis muscle flap technique may offer a new and effective approach to treating infants with severe congenital ptosis causing poor eyelid excursion and associated amblyopia while avoiding use of an implant.

The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with perioperative corneal abrasion at a single hospital in Mineola, New York (United States). A chart review was conducted of patients with perioperative corneal abrasion following non-ocular surgery and age-matched controls between June 2011 and November 2013. An age-stratified logistic regression model evaluated the association between corneal abrasion and potentially predisposing variables. The adjusted odds of a corneal abrasion occurring were 4.6 times greater for patients having surgery for ≥ 3 hours (p=0.001) and 3.6 times greater for patients with pre-existing ocular disease (p=0.02). Gender, diabetes status, surgical procedure or position were not found to be associated with the occurrence of a corneal abrasion. Corneal abrasions were associated with longer procedures and history of pre-existing ocular disease. No significant association between body positioning or surgical site and perioperative corneal abrasion was found. The study concludes that a longer duration of surgical procedure and pre-existing ocular disease are risk factors for perioperative corneal abrasion.