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Living with a plastic eye or prosthetic is a somewhat unique situation that people find themselves in after losing one of their real eyes. This loss can be from a cancer like retinoblastoma or an accident or other trauma. The effects of this kind of situation can be more mental than physical, and both have to be addressed in order for the patient to make a full recovery. An artificial eye is made of a modern plastic and can survive a great deal. This plastic is specially formulated to be clean, hard wearing and to retain its color and shape, no matter what it is subjected to. It can be dropped, stepped on or even swallowed. We wouldn’t suggested trying any other these, but nevertheless the eye can survive a great deal. The same can be said for the wearer of one. It will be difficult and traumatic at first, but they can survive. It is amazing how adaptable we are, both physical and psychologically. We eventually adapt to almost any situation, even if it doesn’t seem possible at first. Most artificial eyes are concave shaped, and colored to match the surviving eye as closely as possible. Think of a thicker, whiter version of a contact lens, without the ability to make you see. The eye will be hand painted in order to make it as unobtrusive as possible in front of the wearer so the closest match is obtained. This can be a therapeutic exercise for the new owner as they can be reassured by the ocularist that the effect, and outward appearance will be almost invisible. A balance has to be struck with keeping the new eye clean and reducing the infection risk from removing it. The more often the eye is removed, the greater chance of infection setting in. Some users remove the eye daily and clean it and the socket, whereas others prefer not to remove it until they have a check-up. There is no hard and fast rule here, a routine will eventually appear that works and that’s fine. Risk should be kept to a minimum by keeping the hands and the area as clean as possible in order to reduce the risk of infection. At a check-up the artificial and probably the remaining eye will be thoroughly checked. The artificial eye will be cleaned and checked for fit and damage. If the user is young and still growing, a fresh mould may be taken for the new version to fit the growing socket. It is also an opportunity to ask questions or talk about the eye. Apart from looking after the plastic or artificial eye, extra care should be taken of the remaining real one. A balance has to be struck between refraining from anything that could harm the eye and enjoying life. This is a personal choice, but it is definitely a good idea to avoid contact sports like football or boxing. Other sports and activities should be fine as long as proper care is taken. The use of protective glasses or goggles may be appropriate in these situations. Again, judgement is needed to decide on the appropriate level of caution and protection. There is no point in protecting the body so much that it loses all sense of fun and adventure. Many people who have lost an eye still enjoy life to the full. As long as the remaining eye is fully functional they play sports, read, drive and do everything else as if they had both eyes. Much depends on the resilience of the user. As with many conditions, the amount it affects the life of the people involved is down to those people involved. Tags: plastic eye plastic eyes fake eye plastic eye plastic eye eye Prosthetic Eyes Fake Plastic Eyes Artificial Plastic Eyes Fake Plastic Eye Artificial Eye Fake Glass Eye |