Orbit, Oculoplasty, Ocular Oncology & Ocular Prosthetic Services, is a subspecialty of ophthalmology that handles anomalies of lids, lacrimal drainage system, extra ocular structures, bony orbit and other ocular adnexa. In the last 20 years, the clinic has seen over 377,000 patients and performed over 117,000 surgeries.

The department has excellent support facilities, diagnostic equipment like Ultrasound A & B Scan, X-ray unit, CT scan, MRI (in collaboration), well established Ocular Microbiology, Pathology, Immunology and Genetic labs. Standard surgical theatre is provided with operating microscope, surgical lights, fiber optic light, bipolar and unipolar cautery unit, Ellman Radio frequency cutting- coagulating system, latest state of the art Navigation system  and endoscopic  surgery equipment with radiotherapy (in collaboration) and chemotherapy facilities.

Orbit

The Orbit Clinic receives a number of referrals encompassing both common and rare orbital disorders, tumours and infections. These are managed both conservatively (medical management/chemotherapy/ radiation) and surgically with tumour and the tissue being sent for biopsy and histopathological correlation. A large number of patients with thyroid related orbitopathy are also treated in collaboration with the general physician and endocrinologist on a daily basis.

Lacrimal system and Orbit

Nasolacrimal duct obstructions both congenital and acquired are routinely treated, with probing, balloon dacryoplasty, external/endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy and Conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy with Jones’ tube placement.  A number of patients with orbital pathology including orbital trauma are seen in the clinic. Orbitotomy with mass incisional/ excision biopsies and orbital floor fracture repair with implants (silicon, prolene mesh and osteopore) are commonly done. Orbital and wound exploration for foreign body and their removal are also expertly handled.

Orbit and Oculoplasty services are available at Aravind – Madurai, Chennai, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Pondicherry.

Oculoplasty

A number of patients are seen in the Oculoplasty clinic with a variety of eyelid disorders including malpositions (Ptosis, Entropion, Ectropion), benign and malignant eyelid tumours, facial dystonias etc. Congenital lid anomalies including lid coloboma, blepharophimosis, epiblepharon and euryblepharon are also surgically corrected. Surgical corrections for ptosis, entropion, ectropion, post traumatic lid tear / canalicular tear, eyelid reconstructions post tumour removal as well as number of cosmetic eyelid surgeries (e.g. Blepharoplasty) and injection of botulinum toxin (Botox) for facial dystonias and cosmetic indications are being performed.

Orbit and Oculoplasty services are available at Aravind – Madurai, Chennai, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Pondicherry.

Ocular Oncology

Adult and paediatric malignancies of eyelids, ocular surface, orbit and globe are diagnosed and managed in the Oncology clinic. Chemotherapy is administered for the relatively common Retinoblastoma, and other rarer ocular and orbital cancers both primary and as adjuvant to surgery and radiotherapy.  Chemotherapy sessions are administered at Aravind, in consultation with an oncologist. A trained nurse attends to the patients’ needs while an experienced medical officer stops by for regular check-ups. The clinic is now a referral centre.

Ocular Oncology service is available at Aravind – Madurai, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli.

Ring of Hope

Ring of Hope fund provides free treatment and rehabilitation to patients suffering from eye cancer.  Cancer treatment which includes diagnosis, genetic testing, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation can be a catastrophic event for any family, burdening them with debt. Ring of Hope also pays for travel and accommodation so that those costs do not become an obstacle to continuing treatment.

In some cases, Aravind can save a patient’s life, but not sight.  Orbital cancers can cause disfigurement and blindness, destroying self-esteem and limiting active participation in the community.  Aravind’s team of expert ocularists created 250 custom prostheses for patients who had an eye removed – roughly half of them were provided free through the Ring of Hope.  The Ring of Hope also provides rehabilitation services and devices for patients who have low vision or are blind.

Ocular Prosthesis

Ocular Prosthesis is an artificial eye or aesthetic model of eyelids and globe which is fit for patients with phthisis bulbi or those whose eyes or orbital contents including globe have been surgically evacuated. During enucleation (surgical process of removing the eye), a silicone ball implant is inserted into the eye socket, to fill the area the eye once occupied. An ocular prosthesis is then moulded to fit in front of the implant. It occupies the space between the eyelids and the conjunctiva covering the implant. A silicone facial prosthesis is also fashioned in the department, for patients who undergo exenteration (removal of orbital contents long with the eyeball) for various oncological/ infective indications.

The Ocular Prosthesis Centre was established in 2004 and is equipped to cater to challenging cases with excellent results. It is now one of the leading centres in India for custom fitting of artificial eyes. Since inception, the centre has fulfilled the prosthetic requirement of over 10,220 satisfied patients. For patients with exenterated socket, silicone facial prosthesis is offered.

Ocular Prosthetics service is available at Aravind-Madurai only.