prosthesis naslovna

Ocular Prostheses

prosthesis naslovnaLearn more about eye prostheses and their proper use…

Glass ocular prostheses differ in color, shape, size and side (left and right). Produced from cryolite glass, which is not subject to corrosion (resistance of material to chemical change). Using the prosthesis sample helps to determine the proper form, after which the prosthesis is made by blowing the glass bead under high temperature. The iris is drawn with colored slides, and then the whole prosthesis is covered with hard transparent glass which also mimics the front chamber of the eye.

In general there are three types of ocular prostheses:

  • – A prosthesis with double wall (sometimes called the “reformed eye”) – made for people whose eye was removed
  • – An adhesive prosthesis – shell prosthesis worn by people with small residual eye, i.e the eye which imploded or withered
  • – A shell prosthesis for the eyeball – prosthesis intended for people with a large residue of the eye.

ADVANTAGES of ocular prosthesis

  • – Hard and smooth surface polished on a high temperature
  • – Comfortable to wear
  • – Glass has good moisturizing quality in the eye cavity
  • – Ensures optimal aesthetic success – easy maintenance (polishing unnecessary)
  • – patients get their new prosthesis at the first arrival to the prosthodontis

DISADVANTAGES of ocular prosthesis

  • – Sensitivity to fracture

  • – Extensive wearing can cause slow hydrolytic degradation of the surface of prosthesis in lacrimal fluid

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

  • Any ocular prosthesis should be daily, for at least twice a week, rinsed in lukewarm distilled water. Glass ocular prosthesis is immersed in a container with water. If you wash prosthesis under running water it can slip out of your fingers and break. Tiny particles that may keep after rinsing typically originate from the secretion of dried tears and can be removed if you place prosthesis into clear alcohol vinegar. The prosthesis should be rinsed in clear water afterwards. If you sleep at night without the prosthesis, after washing it put it aside in a dry pot (prostheses that are placed in a container with water and left there for the whole night after a time can get stones which later create certain problems while wearing)

HOW TO PUT the ocular prosthesis in the eye

  • – Immerse it in a pot with water, press the vacuum pump with your thumb and index finger and press it against the iris of the prosthesis
  • – Use your fingers to pull the upper eyelid, then pull the pump that is pressed on the prosthesis up so that a wider part goes to the outer part of the eye, and the narrow part always need to go towards the root of the nose
  • – Push the prosthesis as much as you can to the upper part of the eye socket
  • – Then use the other hand to pull the lower lid down – the prosthesis should now find the correct position in the eye cavity
  • – When the prosthesis has found the correct position in the eye cavity, you squeeze the finger on the vacuum pump to let go the prosthesis

HOW TO REMOVE the ocular prosthesis from the eye

  • – Press the vacuum pump with your thumb and index finger and press on the the iris of the prosthesis
  • – Use the index finger of the other hand to pull the lower eyelid down and then pull and stretch the prosthesis down.

Taken from: www.savez-slijepih.hr