Has your doctor told you one of your eyes needs to be removed because of disease or injury? If so, you may be weighing your options and wondering what you'll do to replace the eye. Luckily, prosthetic eyes have come a long way. If you aren't sure about getting a prosthetic eye, you need to check out these three facts.

They Are Made From Two Parts

In the movies, you've probably seen the stereotypical joke of a glass eye falling out and bouncing away while the owner chases after it. Luckily, this is no longer the case. Typically, a prosthetic eye is not made from glass. It is made from something like plastic acrylic or another material that is sensitive to the delicate eye tissue inside your eye.

Instead of one piece being shaped like a ball, a prosthetic eye today is made from two parts. The ocular implant is spherical shaped to mimic the shape of the eye. The part people actually see, however, is a separate piece. It is concave like a spoon, and shaped to match the ocular implant inside your eye socket. This ensures it fits inside the eye comfortably with the ocular implant.

They Save the Shape of Your Face

The biggest reason you probably want a fake eye is to regain your appearance. Prosthetic eyes are made by hand for each individual patient, so you get an eye that perfectly matches your other and looks incredibly realistic. For many people, having a missing eye can drastically affect their self-confidence. Having a fake eye that looks real helps boost self-esteem, so patients do not spiral into a depression.

Another advantage, however, may not be as obvious. Like any part of your body, if you don't use it, you lose it. If you have a missing tooth, your jawbone shrinks because it has nothing to support. Similarly, when you lose an eye, the socket closes in on itself, changing the shape of your face. This can worsen depression caused by an altered appearance. The ocular implant, however, saves the shape of the face.

Minor Surgery Is Required

One fact that may scare some patients is that surgery is required, but it is minor, and it can typically be done with just a local anesthetic. Before the fake eye can be placed, the diseased or damaged eye must be removed. This is usually performed with a procedure called enucleation, but there are other types of surgery to remove an eye too. Your doctor will talk more about your options, so you can pick the surgery best for your needs.

Once the eye is gone, the ocular implant is placed inside the eye socket. The eye socket is sutured after the ocular implant is placed. This creates a tiny pocket under the eyelid, which is where the prosthetic eye is placed after healing. This way, the ocular implant is permanent, but you can remove the fake eye if you need to. Before surgery, talk to your doctor. In some cases, the muscles can be attached to the ocular implant, which allows your artificial eye to move with your healthy eye, making it look more natural and realistic.

Just because you have to have an eye removed, it doesn't mean your life is going to change forever. Yes, your vision will be affected, but you can keep your appearance and prevent your eye socket from collapsing with an artificial eye. A good prosthetic eye looks realistic and doesn't require much surgery. If you would like more information regarding prosthetic eyes, contact an artificial eye clinic like Real Life Faces in your area. 

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