Purpose: To evaluate possible changes in aetiology and frequency of bulbar eviscerations and enucleations.
Methods: A total of 1028 cases from three two-year periods: 1975-76, 1985-86 and 1995-96 collected by the Eye Pathology Institute were reviewed.
Results: A significant decrease (p<0.001) in number of enucleations was observed from 358 in 1975-76 to 214 in 1995-96, corresponding to an almost equivalent increase in number of eviscerations from 5 in 1975-76 to 83 in 1995-96. The total number of eye removals decreased significantly (p<0.01) over the last two periods from 368 in 1985-86 to 296 in 1995-96. This was primarily caused by a decrease in the number of glaucoma-related enucleations from 32.7% in 1975-76 to 15.0% in 1995-96. The reduction in number was not fully balanced by the increase in glaucoma-related eviscerations.
Conclusion: Over the last 20 years there has been a change in choice of operation from enucleation to evisceration.