A prosthetic eye is an artificial eye that replaces a missing eye and improves the natural human facial appearance. The type of artificial eye prescribed by your optician might change over time depending on your existing eye condition, whether it develops or deteriorates.There are various reasons why someone might need an artificial eye. With new and advanced optical technologies, patients no longer have to worry about their missing eyes’ volume, shape, or appearance since different prosthetic eye styles exist. Below are some of the few reasons why someone might need artificial eyes.
Various eye diseases or conditions
Various eye diseases might result in the need for a prosthetic eye or eyes. Some of these diseases include life-threatening cancers such as retinoblastoma that aggressively attack the eyes, leaving you blind and severely damaging the nearby facial structures.
Other eye diseases that might require ocular prosthesis include microphthalmia, phthisis bulbi, glaucoma, congenital cataracts, etc. Some people are genetically predisposed to having these eye diseases right from birth. Therefore, if not treated early, they might need the entire eye removal.
Eye Injuries
Eye injuries are also some of the main factors that might lead to an ocular prosthesis. Eye injuries can occur anywhere and anytime in the course of your life. Accidents can cause them, either from home, work, physical activities or driving.
Also, eye injuries can happen at any age; hence everyone is susceptible to needing an artificial eye from an eye injury. It can either be caused by an eye reconstruction or removal.
Eye Surgeries
Eye surgeries are quite common and vital in any eye-threatening existing condition or disease. Different eye surgical procedures involve removing part of the eye or the whole eye.
These surgical procedures include; enucleation and evisceration, also known as orbital exenteration. Enucleation involves removing the entire eye but leaving the eye muscles and the orbital muscles intact. In contrast, evisceration removes some eye contents but leaves the extraocular muscles intact.
If an eye surgery involves removing the entire eye, an artificial eye will regain your average eye volume and shape, giving you a new look and natural confidence.
So, what are some of the new types of prosthetic eyes that you can select to regain your natural look and confidence? Below are the different types of artificial eyes
- Conformer
The conformer eye is an artificial eye that serves as a healing shield after eye surgery. It protects the eye socket and enhances healing before a permanent artificial eye is needed.
- Prosthetic eye
A prosthetic eye is a long-lasting permanent artificial eye that fits perfectly into the eye socket and allows the standard functionality of your eye contents. A prosthetic eye serves its purpose effectively after the conformer eye has served its healing purpose.
- Scleral shell
The scleral shell restores the natural appearance of a disfigured eye. This artificial eye is quite different from the prosthetic eye since it is much thinner and smaller than the prosthetic eye. The scleral shell is also designed to be worn full-time and match your other eye.
- Flush shells
The flush shell is a unique scleral shell that is much thinner and fills the space on the eye socket for people with almost fuller size.
Do You Need excellent Ocular Prosthesis Services?
Welcome to Hetzler Ocular Prosthetics Inc, an Indianapolis-based ocular prosthesis company with over 40 years of experience. We offer various services in custom ocular prostheses, scleral shell prosthetics, etc. Call us today to see how we can meet your needs.