Artificial Eyes Blog » acrylic

Artificial Eye Silicone Lubricants

Todd Cranmore — Wed, 18 May 2011 20:50:46 +0000

The lubricants listed below all work to increase the tear film that coats the surface of your prosthetic eye or scleral shell providing more comfort, easier blinking, and a more natural appearance. These lubricants are developed specifically for artificial eyes.

The higher the viscosity, the thicker and longer lasting the lubricant. While this would indicate the highest viscosity lubricant as the best choice, there are a few more factors to consider. The purpose of a lubricant with an ocular prosthesis is to decrease the friction between the eyelids and the prosthetic surface. The best way to decrease friction is to have a smooth prosthetic surface and a good tear film.

The higher viscosity silicone lubricants will boost the outer tear film layer, reducing the evaporation of tears. The soothing drops and lower viscosity lubricants will help boost the aqueous layer of the tear film. In cases where tear production is limited, it may be helpful to use both a lubricant and a soothing drop to replenish the tear film.

Conditions that deplete tear film and indicate the use of a lubricant:

Air Conditioning,
Wind,
Dry heat,
Frigid cold,
Smoke,
Dust, and
Long duration of computer/television use.

Myth #4: Artificial Eyes are Made of Glass

Todd Cranmore — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:21:51 +0000

Okay, 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.

Help! My Dog Ate My Eye!

Todd Cranmore — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:58:43 +0000

It 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.