Abstract
Background: Destructive Eye Surgery (DES) is a management option that is offered as a final resort where
keeping the globe risks jeopardizing life or the general health of an individual. The three destructive eye
operations are: evisceration, enucleation and exenteration in order of increasing aggressive nature of the
operation.
Objective: To find out the common indications for destructive eye surgeries (DES) at Sekuru Kaguvi Hospital
(SKH).
Methods: Patients who presented to Sekuru Kaguvi Hospital in the period January to March 2017 who ended
up having some form of DES were enrolled into the study. Data was collected on participant demography,
occupation, the affected eye, diagnosis and the subsequent DES done.
Results: A total of 37 eyes of 37 patients had DES done during the period January to March 2017. Generally
more males had DES done on them compared to females (73%). Percentages of the DES done were:
eviscerations 51.4%, enucleations 29.7% and exenterations 18.9%. The main indication for DES was trauma in
32.4%, followed by retinoblastoma in 21.6%, panophthalmitis in 21.6%, ocular surface squamous neoplasia
in 18.9%, staphyloma and painful blind eye in 5.4%. The commonest indication for the eviscerations was
a ruptured globe in 57.9%, the remainder being panophthalmitis. There was a total of 11 ruptured globes
requiring an evisceration and 10 (90.9%) were males. Globe ruptures attributed to assault were 71.2%. The
mean age for eviscerations was 39.21 years. Of the total enucleations done, 72.7% were children under 5
years (average age 2 years), the commonest indications being retinoblastoma in this group (87.5%). A total
of 7 exenterations were performed, the commonest indication being ocular surface squamous neoplasia in
85.7%. Males were at a higher chance of being exenterated than females (5:2). Most of the removed eyes had
no vision (no light perception in 73%, light perception in 18.9%, hand movement in 5.4% and 3/60 in 2.7%).
Conclusion: The main indication for DES was trauma followed by panophthalmitis and retinoblastoma.
The commonest indication for exenteration was OSSN which can be treated earlier before warranting eye
removal. There is thus need to address these preventable conditions and risks that can lead to eye removal.
References
Spaeth G. Ophthalmic surgery: Principles and
practice. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunder; 2003.
Odugbo OP, Wade PD, Samuel OJ, Mpyet CD.
Indications for destructive eye surgeries among
adults in a tertiary eye care center in North Central
Nigeria. J West Afr Coll Surg. 2015; 5(2): 134-153.
Kawome M. Post-destructive eye surgery,
associated depression at Sekuru Kaguvi Hospital
Eye Unit, Zimbabwe: Pilot study. S Afr Optom.
; 72(2): 71-75.
Birkmann LW, Bennett DR. Meningoencephalitis
following enucleation for cryptococcal
endophthalmitis. Ann Neurol. 1978; 4(5): 476-477.
Yanoff Myron, Sassani Joseph W. Ocular
Pathology(6th Ed), Elsevier, 2015 page 73.
Masanganise R, Magava A. Orbital exenterations
and squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva
at Sekuru Kaguvi Eye Unit, Zimbabwe. Cent Afr J
Med. 2001; 47(8): 196-199.
Musa KO, Aribaba OT, Onakoya AO, Rotimi-
Samuel A, Akinsola FB. Indications for destructive
eye surgeries at a Nigerian tertiary eye care centre:
A ten-year review. Niger Postgrad Med J. 2016;
(1): 12-16.
Nwosu SN. Destructive ophthalmic surgical
procedures in Onitsha, Nigeria. Niger Postgrad
Med J. 2005; 12(1): 53-56.
Eballe AO, Dohvoma VA, Koki G, Oumarou A,
Bella AL, Mvogo CE. Indications for destructive
eye surgeries at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric
and Paediatric Hospital. Clin Ophthalmol. 2011;
: 561-565.
Ajibode HA, Thanni LO, Onabolu OO, Bodunde
OT, Otulana TO. The spectrum of eye injuries in
Sagamu, Nigeria. West Afr J Med. 2013; 32(3):
-223.
Gyasi ME, Amoaku WM, Adjuik M. Causes
and incidence of destructive eye procedures in
north-eastern ghana. Ghana Med J. 2009; 43(3):
-126.
Bowling B. Kanski’s clinical ophthalmology. 8th
Ed: Elsevier; 2016.