Artifical Eyes
We have created a Center of Excellence for ocular prostheses after almost 2 decades of specialising in them.
We create high detail, realistic prostheses that always impress.
Our work is appreciated all over Australia, and on an International level, having treated patients from the US, UK, Europe, and Asia.
Our solutions can range depending on your age, and also whether your eye has been damaged or lost due to trauma, disease, or birth conditions.
Please contact us if you would like advice on which option is best for your situation.
Process for making a standard artificial eye
Important Information Before Your Appointment
First Prosthesis
After your natural eye is removed, a healing period of approximately 6-8 weeks is required before your artificial eye can be made.
Your eye surgeon may insert a conformer (a plastic shell) into your eye socket to help maintain its shape and size. This provides some structure until your prosthesis is ready.
You may also receive an ointment to prevent infection, which should be used as directed by your surgeon—typically for about three weeks. For further details, refer to the brochure “Going Home After Surgery.”
Appointments Required
Three appointments are needed for the creation and fitting of your artificial eye:
- 1st Appointment – 2 Hours
- 2nd Appointment – 1 Hour
- 3rd Appointment – 20 Minutes
Note: If you are receiving a Haptic Shell Prosthesis, one or two additional appointments may be required.
First Appointment
Taking an Impression
- A special shell (similar to a conformer) is placed in your socket.
- A soft impression material is injected through a small opening in the shell.
- This process may feel cold and slimy but is completely painless and lasts only about 30 seconds.
- Once set, the impression is removed and used to create a customized mould.
- Measuring and Colour Matching
- The pupil and iris of your existing eye are carefully measured.
- The iris is hand-painted to match your natural eye and placed on the mould.
Second Appointment
- The shape and colour of the prosthesis are reviewed and confirmed.
- Veins and natural staining are added to the sclera (white of the eye) for a realistic appearance.
Third Appointment
- Your finished artificial eye is inserted, and any final adjustments are made.
- You will receive instructions on handling and caring for your prosthesis.
- Any questions or concerns you have will be addressed.
Artificial Eye Maintenance
Cleaning your eye prosthesis will keep you comfortable, reduce the level of secretion, help prevent conjunctivitis and extend the life of your prosthesis.
How to Remove Your Eye?
Preparation
To protect yourself from infection
- wash your hands before you handle your prosthesis.
To protect the prosthesis from damage
- rest a towel over the basin, bench or table. This ensures that if you drop the eye, it has a soft and safe landing.
To Remove
- Place one finger on the lower eyelid.
- Look up.
- Cup the other hand under the eye.
- Press your finger in and pull the eyelid skin toward the ear on that side.
- The eye should slide over the lower lid.
Taking your prosthesis out will feel awkward at first, but will soon become easier. If the eye doesn’t come out easily;
- Use a finger on the other hand to rotate it out of the socket.
- If you still have difficulty, suction cups are available from your ocularist to help you.
- You might notice minor discharge on the eye. Don’t worry: this is quite normal.
How Often Should You Clean Your Eye?
This depends on your own level of comfort. If you are wearing a haptic shell, (simular to contact lens) you may have to remove the prosthesis at night. Otherwise, the less you handle your eye, the better. In fact, many people wear their eye without removing between visits to their Ocularist. Your eye socket will let you know when the time is right, because it will become irritated or weep.
If for any reason you do not have regular visits already scheduled, we have a recall list and will phone you or send a reminder card when you are due for your visit.
When to call your Ocularist?
If you experience excessive swelling, pain, irritation or discharge you must ring immediately.
When to visit your Ocularist?
It is best to have a proactive plan in place to ensure regular visits.
We offer a recall system where there is a note on every patients file card to remind us when to call you and schedule your appointment time.
Reasons to visit your Ocularist regularly
- Frequent visits are important for maintaining ocular health and preventing ocular deterioration of the socket and your one sighted eye.
- The Ocularist needs to examine the artificial eye to ensure it is not cracked or broken or in any way compromising the health of the eye socket
- The Ocularist needs to professionally polish and sterilise your prosthesis regularly depending on the condition of the eye socket and the exposure to everyday conditions.
- Polishing smooths the abrasive and rough edges to avoid any potential scratching that could be happening inside the eye socket.
- Sterilise prosthesis – heat sterilisation rids the prosthesis of bacteria.
What happens to eye socket when wearing an artificial eye?
- There is protein in your tears. As the tears evaporate, they leave a coating on the eye prosthesis. This is the body build-up of a biofilm. This is similar to plaque on teeth. Proteins form and become rough on the delicate tissue of inside of the eye lid and socket.
- If this is not removed professionally the delicate tissue in the eye socket (same as mouth tissue) become inflamed from the abrasion and can cause inflammation and infection.
- To help reduce protein build-up, periodically soak your eye for a few minutes in contact lens solution, then wipe firmly with a wet tissue.
DO: Wash your eye with a mild soap and clean water, then rinse, ensuring all soap is rinsed away.
DO: Rub firmly with a wet lint free cloth.
DON’T: Use alcohol or any chemical cleaner as even a small amount of residue can cause irritation and damage to the eye. Water or a contact lens cleaner are best.
DON’T: Use hairspray, aftershave, perfume or peroxide near your eye, as these also cause irritation.