Impact of Customized Ocular Prostheses on Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Empty Socket: A Questionnaire-based Study

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the impact of customized ocular prostheses (COP) on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with empty socket. Method : A prospective, interventional study was conducted from January 2023 to December 2023 at a tertiary eye care center in central India. The study included 73 patients aged 18-70 years who had undergone enucleation, evisceration, and fornix deepening surgery due to trauma, malignancy, infection, or unsightly eye conditions. The HRQoL included the physical, personal, functional, professional/academic, social, psychological, and aesthetic parameters of these patients with the help of a questionnaire before and three months after using COP. Statistical analyses were performed to compare various HRQoL parameters. Results : Of 73 patients, 40 (54.8%) were males and 33 (45.2%) were females. The median age was 25 years (range 18–70 years). The male-to-female ratio was 1.2:1. The causes of single-eyed status included trauma (38.3%), painful blind eye (15%), acquired anophthalmic socket (15%), endophthalmitis (17.8%), panophthalmitis (6.8%), staphyloma (5.4%) and contracted socket (1.3%). The study found statistically significant improvement (p<0.05) in social, psychological, academic/professional, personal, and aesthetic parameters. There was no significant variation in physical parameters. No significant difference in HRQoL was observed based on the type of surgical intervention (enucleation, evisceration, or fornix deepening surgery). Conclusion : The use of customized ocular prostheses significantly enhances the HRQoL of patients with an empty socket. The study underscores the importance of COP not just for cosmetic rehabilitation but also, for overall psychological and social well-being.