There are four reasons to wear an ocular prosthesis: Comfort, Cosmesis, plus continued Bony Orbital Wall, and Eyelid development. The first two reasons are of immediate importance for parent and child. Comfort is gained with a properly fitted prosthesis, (by relieving the physical stress caused by eye volume loss, and drooping of the eyelid). Cosmesis is recaptured with a lifelike appearance that is once more acceptable to you, your child and peers.

If this is a recent eye loss, you would be referred to an ocularist by your pediatric ophthalmologist, or primary care physician. Local, statewide and national healthcare insurers require this paper trail for approval of this service.

If this is a congenital anomaly, born without an eye(s) or a partially formed globe(s), there would be a preparatory stage of plastic conformers in incremental sizes (in order to expand the eyelid margin and create space within the socket) prior to the fitting of the artificial eye. (This process can be anywhere from three months to three years, depending on the severity of the abnormal development of the bony orbital wall and the palpebral fissure aperture (eyelids).

Yes, the prosthesis looks very natural. The color and appearance are made to match your other eye. The pupil will be of normal size, but will not grow larger and smaller in response to light as it does in the normal eye. If you have received a hydroxyapatite orbital implant the prosthesis will also be able to move in conjunction with your other eye.

Yes, it can provide physical comfort and relief to patients with dry eye syndrome, photophobia, and trichiasis. It also provides a lifelike duplication of the fellow eye, which is psychologically comforting to the wearer.

Printed hygiene care instructions will be given upon completion of the prosthesis, plus we will demonstrate the daily maintenance and periodic removal care. Also, copies of the instructions are available on our Procedure Section.

It's an object made up of plastic that is fitted in the eye socket over the shrunken eyeball or absent eyeball to help the damaged eye resemble normal eye in appearance.

It is amazing how quickly a young child can adjust to monocular vision and the wearing an artificial eye, as compared to the adult prosthetic eye wearer who is readjusting from a lifetime of having depth perception. It becomes a second nature to a child, and they are quite uninhibited. We have parent and teacher stories of children removing the prosthesis during 'show and tell' in school, or when complimented by strangers about how pretty their eyes are.

our laboratory, we will demonstrate removal and reinsertion upon completion of the prosthesis. We also have "printer friendly" instructions available on our Procedure Section.

Yes, during your child's teething stage, we have had reports that he/she will remove the prosthesis and begin to bite on it. (These small teeth marks can be polished off.) However, we also have had a few reports of children swallowing it. (If this occurs, you will have a diaper check, prior to having it disposed of or sterilized.) To date, there has been only one report in fifty years of a child choking on it where the Heimlich maneuver was applied!

In two to six weeks after your surgery you will be fitted with a temporary prosthesis at the ocularist's office. On your second visit, approximately three weeks later, you will be fitted and receive your permanent prosthesis.

Generally, most adult patients will require their prosthesis to be replaced every 5-7 years, and approximately every 2-3 years for children.

Surgery to remove just the tumor could allow tumor cells to float into the spaces around the eye. Furthermore, studies have shown that up to 50% of choroidal melanomas already have invaded the sclera, therefore the entire tumor would not always be removed or treated. Lastly, many eyes do not tolerate this procedure and will suffer detachments of the retina, hemorrhages, and end up having to be removed anyway.

It is a flush fitting plastic shell type artificial eye with varying thinness. It is made to cover an (acquired) blind, scarred, disfigured, phthisical, deviated and/or dysfunctional globe. They can also be categorized as a full thickness scleral cover shell prosthesis for congenital microphthalmic conditions.

Any age really. A child's eyes have finished developing by the time they are about eight years old. Many health authorities screen children in the area of around three years of age. If you are concerned or if there are members of your family with eye problems, then it is best to have your child's eyes examined as soon as possible. All children should have their eyes examined before they start school. No. People who wear the proper glasses realize that they can see more clearly and comfortably.

Pink eye" or conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the covering of the eyeball and lining of the eye socket. There is usually associated eye drainage which may be clear to greenish-yellow and present in varying amounts during the course of the illness. Causes range from a benign viral infection which requires no treatment to a more serious bacterial infection which is very contagious requiring proper antibiotics.