You Need to Know About Eye Prosthesis (False Eye)
Losing an eye can certainly cause sorrow and trouble for you. Apart from causing loss of vision, removing one eye can also interfere with your appearance, making you feel embarrassed and insecure. But calm down, you can use a tool called an eye prosthesis to solve this problem.
What is an eye prosthesis?
An eye prosthesis or false eye is a special tool in the form of an eye-like coating that is inserted into the eye socket to replace a real eye damaged by injury or disease.
Different from eyeball implants (orbital implants) which are round in shape, eye prostheses are thin, curved layers made of shiny acrylic that are made to mimic the appearance of a natural eye.
This fake eye is also equipped with an iris, pupil, white part of the eye, and even visible blood vessels in the eye.
In general, eye prostheses are made of plastic or glass that are shaped to resemble the user’s real eye.
That’s why, most people will choose a model of fake eyes that are similar to their real eyes.
Why use an eye prosthesis?
The main function of an eye prosthesis is to beautify or improve appearance while protecting the open eye socket.
In this case, a person’s appearance may differ due to the loss of one eye,
Even though these fake eyes cannot replace the function of real eyes to see, the use of eye prostheses can help disguise damaged eye conditions.
As a result, so that the appearance still looks like it has two normal eyes.
Although most users choose models of fake eyes that resemble real eyes, sometimes there are also some people who deliberately choose models that are attractive and different from real eyes.
For example, they usually choose different pupil colors to give the impression of heterochromia, which is when a person has 2 different eye colors.
You can also choose to use mass-produced fake eyes. However, it may be more difficult to find an eye color and size that matches your natural eyes.
Who needs an eye prosthesis?
Anyone of any age group can go through the process of installing fake eyes.
Even so, it should be noted that not everyone is advised by doctors to use eye prostheses because they include eye surgery that is quite large and cannot be changed again.
An eye prosthesis is only used to replace an eye that is damaged or needs to be removed from the body.
This eye damage can cause discomfort and experience partial or complete visual impairment.
Generally, an eye that is damaged and unable to function will be removed through surgery if it cannot be repaired and can cause further health problems.
Some of the conditions that most often cause eye removal include:
1. eye injury,
2. eye cancer,
3. eye infection, and
4. severe eye pain, such as from neovascular glaucoma.
What are the preparations before placing an eye prosthesis?
Before undergoing surgery, you need to do a consultation regarding what can and cannot be done.
It is important to tell your doctor if you are taking certain medications or supplements, especially blood thinners ( anticoagulants ) and diabetes medications.
Most people who have this procedure will need to stay in the hospital. Therefore, don’t forget to bring a comfortable change of clothes.
How is the eyeball removal procedure performed?
Before an eye prosthesis can be placed, you need to undergo surgery to remove the eyeball and implant the eyeball (orbital implant).
The eyeball removal procedure usually takes 1-2 hours and is done under general anesthesia.
An eye lift can be done with either of the following two procedures.
1. Eviserasi
Evisceration, which means evisceration, is done by removing almost the entire contents of the eye and leaving only the white part of the eye ( sclera ) which is still connected to the muscle tissue.
The eye sclera will be used to close a porous eyeball implant that is inserted into the eye.
This operation is generally easier to do so the healing process can be faster.
2. Enuclease
Enucleation is done by lifting all parts of the eye including the sclera of the eye. A porous eyeball implant will be inserted into the eye to replace the original eyeball that was removed.
Although more difficult, enucleation is more common than evisceration.
How is the procedure for placing eye prostheses carried out?
When carrying out one of the two eyeball removal surgeries above, the doctor will also insert a layer of clear plastic behind the eyelid.
The plastic serves to prevent the contraction of the eye socket for several weeks after surgery.
After the surgical wound has healed, usually around 6-10 weeks after surgery, the eye prosthesis can be made if you choose to make a false eye that matches your real eye.
The doctor will print the eye socket using foam material so that the artificial eyeball can be made according to that size.
Before the false eye is inserted into the eye socket, the doctor will first remove the plastic layer.
Eye prostheses can usually only be installed 3-4 months after eyeball removal surgery when the surgical wound has completely healed.
During implant placement surgery, the doctor will cover the implant with eye tissue so that the implant can move like a real eye.
An eye prosthesis can generally move along with the movement of a healthy eye. However, the movement of the fake eye may not be as natural as the real eye.
What needs to be considered after the installation of an eye prosthesis?
Please note, although in general, the installation of eye prostheses does not take a long time, you may feel pain and nausea within 72 hours after undergoing eye prostheses.
To help deal with the pain, pain relievers can be used. If needed, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics or pain relievers.
People who undergo this procedure usually need to stay in the hospital for 2 days before being allowed to go home.
However, you still have to treat surgical scars and check with your doctor after 2 weeks to remove the stitches.
How to use eye prostheses
After undergoing eyeball implant placement and making eye prostheses, you can start using these fake eyes independently at home.
Based on the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the following are the steps for installing and removing an eye prosthesis.
1. Install without using a suction cup
1. Wash your hands first.
2. Lift the upper eyelid slowly with your fingers and insert the upper part of the false eye under the eyelid
3. Insert the lower part of the fake eye into the lower eye socket slowly.
4. Pull the lower eyelid so that it covers the bottom of the fake eye.
5. Close your eyes to make sure the fake eye feels comfortable.
6. Look in the mirror to make sure the prosthetic eye is in the correct position.
2. Install it using a suction cup
1. Moisten the suction cup with water. This will help the jaws suck better.
2. Squeeze the handle of the bowl and attach the surface of the bowl to the center of the fake eye.
3. Release the handle to make the fake eyes stick to the surface of the bowl.
4. Gently lift your eyelids with your fingers and place the top of the fake eye under your eyelid.
5. Pull the lower eyelid and insert the lower part of the fake eye into the eye socket.
6. Gently remove the bowl from the false eye.
3. Release without using a suction cup
1. Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
2. Pull the lower eyelid with the index finger to reveal the bottom of the fake eye.
3. Use your index finger to gently lift the false eye out of the eye socket.
4. Release using a suction cup
1. Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
2. Wash the suction cup with mild soap or baby shampoo and water.
3. Wet the tip of the suction cup with water to help the bowl suck better.
4. Press the handle part of the bowl and attach it to the center of the fake eye.
5. Remove the handle to make the fake eye adhere to the surface of the bowl.
6. Use your index finger to gently pull the lower eyelid. Lift the false eye out of the eye.
7. Wash the suction cup again with mild soap or baby shampoo and water.
How to care for eye prostheses
To care for an eye prosthesis, follow these steps.
1. Rinse the false eye with water.
2. Wash false eyes with mild soap or baby shampoo. Do not use cleaning soaps that contain alcohol because they can damage the false eyes.
3. Wash all sides of the fake eye.
4. Rinse the fake eyes with water and make sure there is no soap left.
5. Let the fake eyes dry on their own. Do not use a cloth to dry the fake eyes because it can cause dirt to stick to the fake eyes.
Always remember to clean the false eye when the eye socket or eye looks red, swollen or dirty.