Ko Audrey C, Yom Kelly H, Kikkawa Don O
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, 9415 Campus Point Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2019 Mar 30;14:110-111. doi: 10.1016/j.ajoc.2019.03.011. eCollection 2019 Jun.
Changes in behavioral patterns can be the only indication of the presence of pain in nonverbal patients. Phthisis bulbi results in shrinking, disorganization, and sometimes severe inflammation of the ocular globe and can occur after eye injury or multiple eye surgeries. Chronic tearing, frequent eye rubbing, and self-injurious behavior focused around the eye and periocular region may indicate ocular discomfort in nonverbal patients. In eyes that become painful and refractory to medical treatment, ocular evisceration or enucleation can provide immediate pain relief. An ocular prosthesis provides excellent cosmetic results to restore normal facial appearance after surgery.
