Tutorial: How to make a prosthetic eye

Step 1: Client consultation

The first and most important step is to meet with the client for consultation. The ocularist reviews the client's medical and ocular history to determine what process is best for them. It is safe to move forward after confirming that the eye socket is healthy.

Step 2: Taking an impression

An impression captures the exact shape and size of the client's eye socket, like a roadmap of its contours and outlines. The Bonds create a custom impression tray of the eye socket for each client, similar to the impression of teeth in dentistry. The tray features small holes and a stem connected to a tube, allowing silicone material to be injected into the empty socket. Once the silicone sets, a mold is formed.

Step 3: Creating the mold and fitting shape

After the impression is used to make a positive mold or cast of the socket, the ocularist creates a fitting shape, which is a smooth, unpainted prototype of the prosthetic eye. The patient returns for a fitting session, where the fitting shape is tested for comfort, alignment, and movement. The ocularist continues to make adjustments until the fitting shape is impeccable.

Step 4: Fitting and sculpting

The ocularist makes adjustments to the symmetry of the fitting shape and the lid contour area to match the patient's facial features. Sometimes, conditions like lagophthalmos, the incomplete closure of the eye, require extra sculpting.

Step 5: Painting and coloring

Here's where the art comes in! Ocularists are just as much artists as they are medical professionals. The ocularist takes photos and color samples of the natural eye under various lighting conditions. With these references, the ocularists mix acrylic paints to match the iris, sclera, and countless veins. The Bonds paint privately because the painting process is so detailed that it often lasts hours. Additionally, the acrylic fumes from the paint can be dangerous for the client. The Bonds also create "Fun Eyes," which are prosthetic eyes with fun and vibrant designs, such as a Spider-Man or galaxy-theme.

Step 6: Processing and polishing

After painting, the prosthetic eye is enclosed in a clear medical-grade acrylic and cured for durability. The surface is then polished to a glassy, lifelike finish.

Step 7: Final fitting

The client returns to the ocularist's center for a final fitting. Comfort, alignment, and aesthetic appearance are checked one last time. The client receives detailed instructions on how to care for and clean their prosthetic eye.

Stories Using This Infobox

No stories are currently using this Infobox.

Scot Scoop News

Scot Scoop News

Scot Scoop News