Commonly described as a ‘glass eye’, an ocular prosthesis is a medical-surgical system utilized in cases of enucleation or evisceration. An eye removal operation is necessary in cases where the eye is blind and hurting (like in case of neovascular glaucoma), in cases of diminished or extremely small eye globes as a result of multiple surgeries, and in cases of tumour or serious traumas. Car, sport and job accidents represent the most frequent causes of eye globe loss and subsequent reconstruction.The psychological and physical repercussions of an enucleation are of the same nature as those accompanying other types of mutilations. However, in the case of eye loss, besides the anatomical-functional damage, there is also the uneven gaze which is an essential element of expression in human relations. The application of a prosthesis has the function of making the impairment more acceptable, reinstating the aesthetic appearance of the face and making it as harmonious and similar to the original one as possible.During the operation of eye reconstruction, a sphere-shape implant is inserted into the globe or orbital socket, aimed at filling the area previously occupied by the eye so as to maintain its form. Later on, an ocular prosthesis is modelled for each patient so that it perfectly adapts to the implant previously fitted during the operation.

WHY SHOULD I UNDERGO THE OCULAR PROSTHESIS IMPLANT?

All the patients who have faced an organ removal surgery or who should have a diminished eye can undergo the ocular prosthesis implant:

• With an aesthetic function: to better accept proper image and have a higher quality social life.
• With a protective function: acts as a barrier against pathogenic and irritating external agents.
• With a structural function: to maintain the alignment of the eyebrow arches, the position of the eyelids, and the symmetry of the face.

These results are reached giving to the prosthesis a relative lateral mobility and reproducing chromatic and morphological characteristics of the iris, of the sclera (the white and the coloured part of the eye, respectively) and the capillaries.

Each patient will be guided and advised on the most appropriate and advanced surgical practices, in compliance with the latest guidelines of international surgical associations

WHAT DOES THE INTERVENTION CONSIST OF?

• During the removal operation, a sphere-shape implant is fitted into the globe socket in order to fill the area previously occupied by the eye, so as to maintain its shape and its volume.
• An ocular prosthesis is then modelled for each patient in a way to perfectly adapt to the implant fitted in during the operation.
• The prosthesis is personalized for each patient, respecting the aesthetic characteristics of the other eye: once installed, it helps sustain the eyelid and allows its normal opening and closing.

The surgical choice will take into account the individuality of each patient, respecting the natural and harmonious look of the face

WHAT SHALL I EXPECT? WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF AN OCULAR PROSTHESIS?

The aim of the operation is to respect and maintain the aesthetic look of the face, because this need is the essential objective of the ocular prosthesis.
The ocular prosthesis is supposed in fact to foster the best conditions for social reintroduction of the eye globe mutilation victims, or those whose front part of the eye has been deformed even though a partial vision has been preserved.
The prosthesis is able to keep the eyelids in the right position and to imitate the other, healthy eye in its look and movement.

The patient recovers the gaze and facial symmetry and feels comfortable while interacting with others