Here is a website with some great information about some early artificial eyes. It shows some great photos and schematics.
Check it out:http://www.college-optometrists.org/en/knowledge-centre/museyeum/online_exhibitions/artificialeyes/early.cfm
Early Artificial Eyes
June 15th, 2010Common Questions About Artificial Eyes
March 5th, 2010Often we will receive questions that may be helpful to other wearers of ocular prosthetics, or for one who is in need of an artificial eye. We hope these questions and answers below will be helpful!
Q: Will the eye “cry” like normal?
A: Yes, the tear production is in the eyelids, so having a prosthesis bring the eyelids forward to “full sized” will allow normal tear production and tear flow.
Q: Can you “rub” your eye, get the sleep out of it?
A: Yes, we recommend patients rub both eyes “towards the nose” to remove any drainage or sleep in the eye.
Q: Is it sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. Below zero weather?
A: The prosthesis itself is solid acrylic, so it does not conduct heat. If you are skiing in cold and wind, the eye will become cold and dry quickly. If you are in a hot dry or dusty environment, it will become dry quickly. Both of these extreme environments can be alleviated by using a lubrication eye drop to keep the eye moist and lubricated. We have several types of lubricants that have worked well for patients.
Q: In the winter cold on a walk, will the eye drain fluid?
A: Similar to above, it may become dry and the body may try to lubricate, so it may drain, similar to tears. Again, using a lubrication drop before the walk will alleviate this.
Q: Will sleep/drainage in the eye be bad?
A: In the prosthetic side, typically more drainage is produced due to the presence of the prosthesis in the socket. Whether this will increase or decrease the amount of drainage you currently experience is difficult to predict.
Q: Will it pop out involuntarily?
A: In general, no. The prosthesis is held in by the eyelids, so if your lower lid is very lax, it would be more possible for the prosthesis to become dislodged when rubbed. For most, this is not a concern.
Q: Are there any activity restrictions?
A: No. Swimming is fine, chlorine will not damage the prosthesis. I can not think of any other activities that would be hampered by wearing a prosthesis.
Q: Can I take a normal shower?
A: Absolutely.
Q: Can you wear make up near the eye?
A: Absolutely.
Q: What happens when the eye socket becomes infected?
A: Infection would be noticeable by increased drainage or discomfort in the socket. Treatment would be similar to pink eye, treated with an antibiotic gel or eye drop. It should clear on its own, just like pink eye would, but will clear within 2-3 days with an antibiotic.
Q: Are the procedures done at your office?
A: Yes, the entire prosthesis is made over 4 appointments at our office.
If you have questions that are not answered here, feel free to contact us! We would be happy to help in any way we can. Also, take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions.
A Healing Art to Broadcast on PBS’s POV
March 2nd, 2010We received word this week that our documentary on our office and artificial eyes is going to be scheduled for broadcast on PBS Point of View (POV) sometime during their 2010-2011 broadcast season! Here is an article written about the process of making this documentary and the 
Doc Challenge that begins March 5th this year: filmmakermagazine.net
We will keep you posted on the broadcast date of the documentary, it is viewable here on our website: A Healing Art
Enjoy!
Should You Wear an Eye Patch After Surgery?
January 19th, 2010Many patients have inquired about wearing an eye patch during the recovery period after an enucleation or evisceration surgery. A clear conformer is worn during this time until the tissue swelling has reduced enough to be fit with the final ocular prosthesis. It usually takes about 6-8 weeks after the surgery until the swelling reduces and the final prosthesis can be made. During this time, patients have worn eye patches, bandages, placed stickers or tape on their glasses or worn sunglasses. In general, we want to make sure the swollen tissue has the opportunity to heal as quickly as possible. This usually means leaving it uncovered whenever possible. Having a fabric or paper eye patch covering the socket can promote swelling, as the patch can act like a humidifier. We recommend that if a patient chooses to wear an eye patch, they remove it when possible to allow the healing to continue quickly. And, of course, you should follow all directions of your surgeon or medical provider.
We have been carrying ultra suede eye patches for several years now on our website. These patches are constructed with very soft and durable ultra-suede material and velcro enclosures. These patches have been very well received by our patients. Customers online have also wanted us to carry more colors and sizes of these excellent eye patches. We now carry five colors in the adult eye patches and 4 colors/patterns in the child sizes. Feel free to check out our eye patches.
Myth #4: Artificial Eyes are Made of Glass
January 4th, 2010Okay, so this one’s actually true. Artificial eyes have been and do continue to be made of glass in some parts of the world. In United States, blown glass has not been used to make artificial eyes in over 65 years. Please see our History section for more explanation of this. The current material for making artificial eyes is acrylic. Poly-methylmethacrylate or PMMA for short. Acrylic is an excellent material due to its very low reactivity with human tissue. The acrylic is also a very smooth material that is very strong. Acrylic is actually more transparent than glass, hence it’s widespread use in aquarium enclosures, rather than glass.
For our benefits, acrylic is a very good material to work with. It can be added to and subtracted from relatively easily and is very durable. Most ocular prosthetics last 5 years, but not because of the material. Usually the fit of the prosthesis has changed due to the constant changing of one’s own ocular tissue. The acrylic will usually do quite well in the socket until about 10 years when the pores will begin harboring bacteria.
Acrylic eyes do require maintenance to keep the surface smooth and free of bacteria. A professional polish every six months is recommended for most patients. This allows the ocularist an opportunity to inspect the fit, health of the socket and also remove protein and bacteria that form in the pores of the acrylic. If it has been more than a year since your last polish, please contact your ocularist.
Myth #3: Artificial Eyes & Scleral Shells are Cosmetic
December 19th, 2009It is very rare that we come upon an insurance company these days who believes that artificial eyes or scleral shells are cosmetic. The medical necessity for wearing an artificial eye or a scleral shell is to bring about the natural functions of the eye socket. These include proper drainage of tears, creation of tears, protection of the mucosal tissue from drying out and contracting, protection from infection and bringing the phthsical globe or anophthalmic socket back to full size. These reasons alone are enough to provide medical necessity, yet there are of course other benefits to wearing an artificial eye or scleral shell. If you have difficulty with your insurance company considering this a cosmetic procedure, please contact your ocularist for assistance.
Myth #2: Artificial Eyes Do Not Move
December 15th, 2009It seems that most everybody has a great uncle twice removed who had an “glass eye” that did not move. Contrary to popular belief, most modern artificial eyes and scleral shells move quite well. Movement of the artificial eye is dependent on the movement of the tissue behind the prosthesis and the fit of the prosthesis to this tissue.
Movement could be broken into a couple different categories:
- Conversational Motility
- Moderate Motility
- Extreme Motility
- Blinking
Motility is the movement of the eye, it includes conversational movement and the movement of the eye all the way to the extremities. Most patients we see experience very good conversational motility. We consider conversational motility to be the horizontal and vertical movement of the prosthesis in the first 10 degrees in each direction. This is the most common movement of the eye, the quick darting movements we all make during interactions with others.
Moderate motility is movement past the 10 degrees of conversational motility, but movement that falls short of the extremities. The degree of motility of an ocular prosthesis is most dependent on the movement of the ocular tissue or ocular implant placed by the surgeon. A nicely placed orbital implant that is central in the orbital cavity and appropriately attached to the major ocular muscles, will be well positioned to provide very good motility. A second factor in motility is the fit of the prosthesis to the orbital implant. Erickson Labs Northwest utilizes the modified impression technique that provides the best possible junction between the front of the orbital tissue and the posterior of the prosthesis, allowing the best possible movement.
Extreme motility is the movement of the eye all the way to the extremities. Extreme motility is more rare due to the anatomical design of the eye socket and the necessary shape of the artificial eye. Extreme motility is often seen in patients wearing a scleral shell over a nice full sized or phthsical globe. Extreme motility can also be seen in patients fitted with a motility implant and integration system such as a titanium peg.
Blinking is the vertical movement of the eyelids, mostly the superior lid, to close and open again. While blinking is not motility, it is very important to the realism of an artificial eye. Blinking functions to wet the ocular surface creating a tear film, promote creation of tears from the eyelid glands, pumping excess tears to the tear ducts, and clearing the ocular surface of debris. Proper blinking is very important to the health of the anophthalmic socket and the normal appearance of an artificial eye.
Myth #1: Artificial Eyes are Round Spheres
December 1st, 2009This is perhaps one of the most common misperceptions new patients have about artificial eyes. I think Hollywood has done an excellent job perpetuating this myth! Imagine the round wooden eye rolling down the deck of the pirate ship in Pirates of the Caribbean. While it is possible that an artificial eye could be made in this shape, it would be VERY rare. Most artificial eyes are shaped in what we call the reform shape, where the front is curved similar to a natural eye and the back is impression molded to the existing tissue. The existing tissue owes its shape to the orbital implant – which most often is a sphere. The resulting shape of the artificial eye is like a large contact. The thickness is determined by the space between where the orbital tissue is and where the front of the cornea should be on a natural eye. Our regards to Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew, but this one is a myth!
Help! My Dog Ate My Eye!
November 16th, 2009It may sound funny, but this has happened to several patients over the years. Just as animals like the smell and taste of your shoes, they will happily munch on your prosthetic eye if it is left unattended. We would typically recommend wearing your eye full time, but if you need to remove it for any reason, make sure you store it in a safe place, out of the reach of any of your four footed friends.
This is an example of a recent occurrence, note the small bite marks that cover the front and back surface. This may seem hopeless, but if the acrylic is not too old, we may be able to grind through the marks, add back the acrylic and return the prosthesis to its original condition.
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- Dog Bite
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- Dog Bite
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- Repaired Prosthesis
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- Repaired Prosthesis
