This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
New hyaluronic acid injection technique shows efficacy for orbital enhancement
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
A new method for injecting a form of hyaluronic acid appears effective for achieving orbital volume enhancement when performed in an outpatient setting, according to a small study by a surgeon in the United Kingdom.
"The expected volume enhancement was achieved in all cases, with no long-term adverse effects to date," the study author said.
Raman Malhotra, FRCOphth, evaluated outcomes of five patients aged 18 to 36 years who received eight injections containing 2 mL of Restylane Sub-Q (nonanimal stabilized hyaluronic acid, Q Med). These injections were administered in the intraconal and extraconal posterior orbits; follow-up ranged from 5 to 12 months, according to the study.
All five patients tolerated the injections well and achieved orbital volume enhancement, with improved upper eyelid sulcus and skin fold, Dr. Malhotra reported.
The reduction of enophthalmos averaged 2 mm per 2 mL injection.
One patient had a vasovagal episode that persisted for 3 hours, and one patient experienced post-injection pain. However, no further such episodes occurred after Dr. Malhotra began administering local anesthesia before performing the injections, he said in the study.
One other patient needed hyaluronidase for migrating gel, which caused lower eyelid swelling, he added.
The study is published in the December issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.