Coping with Chronic Health Conditions: Tips

3 Faqs Regarding Prosthetic Eyes

26 February 2018 by Freddie Cox

If you have a damaged or diseased eye that needs to be removed for your health or comfort, you may be wondering about prosthetic eyes. These fake eyes have been around a long time, but they have evolved. If you are worried about getting your eye removed and having a fake one, check out these three frequently asked questions.

What Material Is Used to Craft a Prosthetic Eye?

When you imagine having a prosthetic eye, you may fear it popping out and bouncing around like a marble because that same joke has been in movies and on TV. However, fake eyes aren't round, and they are not made of glass anymore. Instead, they are made from acrylic or a similar plastic/material that doesn't irritate the inner eye tissue. The fake eye is actually made from two parts. The implant is round and inserted deep inside the eye socket where a natural eye sits. The second part is the fake front eye, which is removable.

What Are the Benefits of A Prosthetic Eye?

The most obvious benefit of a prosthetic eye is that it restores your appearance. The eye is crafted to match your other perfectly. However, without an eye or a fake eye, overtime, the shape of your face changes. The skull begins to collapse into the eye socket because it isn't being used. By placing an implant inside the eye socket, you save the shape of the eye and your face. This is important for preventing patients from becoming severely depressed over a drastic change in their appearance.

Is Surgery Necessary?

Minor surgery is required to remove the damaged eye and place the implant, but you are typically awake during the procedure. The area is numbed with a local anesthetic, and the doctor either removes only the eyeball or the eyeball and connecting muscles. The implant is then placed inside, and sutured closed, making it non-removable. The part with the iris is then inserted directly behind the eyelid. If the doctor was able to leave some of the eye muscles and connects them to the implant, you may even be able to slightly move the artificial eye.

Losing an eye can be devastating, but prosthetic eyes have come a long way, making them look almost as natural as real eyes. Plus, they protect the shape of your face. If you would like more information regarding fake eyes, contact an eye doctor, like Macomb Eye Care Specialists, in your area today.

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