 | Care Tips for an Ocular Prosthesis |
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An Ocular Prosthetic can easily be removed and replaced at any time. However you should only remove it when necessary. They are held in place by the lower and upper eyelids and fit to the interior of the eye socket. Most patients wear their prosthesis full time, removing only occasionally to clean, while other patients remove their prosthesis at night. Wearing full time is considered the best practice. If you do remove it for any period be sure to store it in water or soft contact lens saline solution. This will keep deposits from drying on the surface of the prosthesis
Always use clean hands when handling your prosthesis. Check your surroundings to make sure the prosthesis won't be damaged or lost if it is accidentally dropped. Remove the prosthesis only as necessary to clean or as often as directed. Too much handling can cause irritation to your socket and excess drainage.
| To Remove an Ocular Prosthesis |
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1. Open your eyelids with your thumb and forefinger.
2. Place suction cup on the front of the prosthesis by squeezing
handle and releasing once attached to the prosthesis.
3. Look up and depress lower lid with forefinger.
4.Slide prosthesis upward and forward, out of socket.
Or; Look up, depress lower lid with forefinger and swipe towards ear,
dislodging prosthesis. Remove prosthesis with your free hand.
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| To Insert an Ocular Prosthesis |
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1.Attach suction cup to prosthesis, lift upper eyelid
with finger to create an opening.
Without suction cup, hold on to edges of prosthesis with fingers.
2. Gently slide top edge of artificial eye under upper lid into the socket.
3. Release upper lid while holding artificial eye in place.
4. Gently pull down lower lid until eye drops into position behind the lids.
5. Remove suction cup and blink to moisten prosthesis.
Check eye position and adjust if necessary.
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| Additional Tips |
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- If your eye itches, always wipe toward the nose with the eye closed.
- Always wear goggles when engaged in water sports.
- Never remove your prosthesis and place it in anything other than a container of saline solution.
- Always practice good hygiene when handling your prosthesis - keep your hands washed and clean.
- Changes in weather, temperature, pollen count, colds, sleep patterns, etc, may affect the way your eye feels in your socket and the amount of moisture on the surface of your prosthesis. In such cases you may have to deviate from your normal routine and compensate for these changes.
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