Maintaining and Repairing a Prosthetic Eye By M.D. Beck At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Prosthetic eyes need maintenance, just like any prosthesis. A lot of that maintenance can be done at home by the patient, but there is some that should be done only by a professional. For example, an artificial eye, much like a hard contact lens, should be professionally cleaned and polished at least once a year in order to keep the acrylic finish intact. The eye will look better that way, and it will also feel better and not cause as much irritation to the patient's eye socket and surrounding tissue. Eyes that are not cleaned properly can cause discharge, infection, and other problems, and they can also feel uncomfortable.

Even if you clean your prosthetic eye at home on schedule just as your doctor suggested to you, having it cleaned professionally is very important. Infants and children under three should be seen by their doctor every three months, children who are still over three but still young and growing should be seen every six to nine months, and older teenagers and adults should be seen once a year, at least. If problems with the prosthetic eye develop or there is a lot of discomfort or other problems, a person should be seen sooner than would be 'normal,' no matter what his age.

Occasionally, maintenance is not enough and a person will need to repair or replace his artificial eye. With the cost of a prosthetic eye averaging a couple thousand dollars, it's much better to take care of the eye and only replace it when necessary – usually every three to five years – especially if you don't have insurance to cover the cost. Even with good insurance, a written prescription is usually needed from an ocularist or other doctor who is licensed to deal with prosthetic eyes before insurance will pay for a replacement.

Some repairs can also be done on a prosthetic eye, but they are limited. For example, an eye that is chipped, cracked, or broken can generally not be fixed and will need to be replaced. Protein or other build-up or residue; or hairline scratches of the artificial eye can be corrected. The fit of the eye can also be adjusted over time if it becomes less comfortable for the patient after a period of wear. It is also crucial that your artificial eye be polished correctly. If it is not, the contours of the eye could be changed and the eye will no longer fit you comfortably.

If you have problems with your artificial eye, have the eye and the socket checked out and examined. Some people are sensitive to some of the acrylic compounds that are used to make prosthetic eyes, but as technology advances those people have more and more options. Don't let irritation or discomfort keep you from wearing a prosthetic eye or cause you to assume that there's nothing that can be done to make it more comfortable for you. With good care and the right ocularist, you can find the prosthetic eye option that will work for you. The care that you'll receive will keep your eye usable and looking natural for many years to come.

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