mersilene mesh versus sclera as a wrapping material for orbital implant

purpose: to evaluate exposure rate following wrapping hydroxyapatite implant in mersilene mesh and donor sclera. methods: in a prospective comparative interventional case-series 60 consecutive patients underwent primary hydroxyapatite orbital implant wrapped in mersilene mesh or donor sclera. results: thirty patients (21 male and 10 female) underwent implantation with mersilene mesh and 30 patients (20 males and 10 females) with donor sclera. average age at the time of surgery was 36.4 years (range, 10-77) in the mersilene mesh group and 28.5 years (range, 8-85) in the sclera group. the most frequent cause of enucleation in both groups was trauma ( 53.3% in mersilene mesh and %56.6 in scleral group, respectively). after 10.4 months (range, 6-18) follow up there was no exposure in the mersilene mesh group; however after 9.4 months (range, 6-15) follow up in the sclera group one exposure was observed. there was no significant diference in exposure rate between the two groups. conclusion: mersilene mesh should be considered as an alternative for donor sclera. it is readily available and avoids risk of disease transmission.