Ocular Prosthesis

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Ocular Prosthesis
Non - Clinical
Prosthetic centre was started at Aravind –
Madurai way back in August 2004 and is now
one of the leading centres in India for custom
fitting of artificial eyes. Now it is more than 10
years since establishment and the centre has
done 5572 ocular prosthetic fittings and the
patients are from India as well as countries
like Oman, Australia, Maldives, Nigeria and
Malaysia.
Ocular Prosthesis is an artificial eye, fitted
to patients whose eye has been removed and
for those with blind contracted eye. During
enucleation (the surgical process of removing
the eye), a ball implant is inserted into the eye
socket, to fill the area the eye once occupied.
An ocular prosthesis is then moulded to fit
in front of the implant. It occupies the space
between the eyelids and the skin (conjunctiva)
covering the implant.
A prosthetic eye can tremendously
improve the appearance of the affected.
Generally, people prefer it to wearing an eye
patch or bandage. If the entire eye is removed,
an ocular implant and prosthesis prevent
the tissues in the eye socket from growing to
fill the empty space. A prosthetic eye cannot
restore vision. After removal of the natural
eye and placement of a prosthetic eye, a
person will have no vision in that eye.
Types of Ocular Prostheses
Stock shells
These are readymade and available in the
market with different corneal and scleral
colour. Patient can choose hem according to
the socket size and colour.
A R A V I N D
E Y E
C A R E
S Y S T E M
Scleral cover shell prostheses
These are thin plastic prostheses used when
an eye is congenitally malformed or becomes
non-functioning following an injury or illness.
In such cases, the non-functioning eye is left
within the eye socket. A prosthesis can be
moulded to fit between the lids and the blind
eye.
Scleral lens
It is a large contact lens that rests on the
sclera. They are designed to treat a variety of
eye conditions which do not respond to other
forms of treatment.
Custom made Prostheses
Custom made artificial eyes are made of
high density medical grade PMMA which
is highly compatible for the socket and has
high resistance to breakage. An impression of
the patient’s socket is taken using non toxic
and non allergic alginate powder. Using this
impression a wax model is developed. This
wax model is then carved to the exact contour
of the patient’s socket so as to determine the
structure and shape of the prosthesis. Lid
structure and motility is checked using the
wax model. Using the wax model, a mould
is made and using the mould, the acrylic eye
is finally made. In the next step, the eye is
hand painted to match the other eye and then
cured. Next, a clear coat is given and then
polished giving the artificial eye a natural
appearance with a three dimensional effect.
Custom made artificial eye offers far
more benefits than the ready made eye. Since
the artificial eye fits well into the socket, the
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Before Prosthesis
After Prosthesis
patient finds it very comfortable and there is
virtually no discharge. As it sits snug in the
socket, it tends to move making it all the more
natural. Since they are hand painted to match
the other eye, they look natural enhancing the
appearance of the person giving a boost to
their confidence and self-esteem.
Custom made eyes are made of high
grade plastic. In these types of eyes,
modifications are possible to solve problems
like Ptosis, proptosis and socket expansion
without surgery.
promising for patients who have undergone
complete surgical removal of eye ball and
orbital tissue due to lid or orbital cancers, to
regain the cosmetic appearance. Around ten
such facial prosthesis were done during the
past year.
Temporary custom fit prosthesis is
suitable for children in whom the size of
the prosthesis has to be increased at regular
intervals to match with the growth of the
orbit. It is also given to patients following
surgery to assess whether they can tolerate the
shell, before going for permanent custom fit
prosthesis.
Facial Prosthesis
Going one step forward, the centre introduced
facial prosthesis in August 2013. It is very
Source: R.M Meena
Ocular Prosthetic Centre, Aravind – Madurai.
Compassion Apr - June, 2015