Prosthetic eyes

God!

So, I’ve got one eye that basically gave up on me after a bunch of surgeries. It looks pretty rough, and I’m starting to seriously consider getting an ocular prosthesis. The good news is the eye still moves normally—no muscle damage or issues with the socket itself. What I really want to know is how "invisible" can these things actually be? Like, how well can a prosthetic mimic a perfectly healthy eye? I’m talking about movement, the overall impression it gives people (will they even notice?), how much of a pain it is to maintain, all that good stuff... I tried digging for info on http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/article/48/
, but none of it actually answered my specific questions.
Honestly, does anyone know of any famous people out there who wear a prosthetic eye without anyone ever catching on? I’d love to see what this looks like in the real world, especially if we're talking about the high-end, top-tier versions.

It looks pretty decent, I guess, but it just doesn't move quite like a healthy eye would, so you can tell something’s a bit off at a glance. I actually know two people who wear prosthetic eyes, and honestly, one looks way more natural than the other, even though I doubt they have anything particularly special going on. Maybe try doing a quick Google search for "prosthetic eye" and you'll see what I mean by how they look in photos

Hey brighttiger11,

I am dealing with the exact same issue as you. I’ve been mulling over getting a prosthetic for a while now because I’m honestly just tired of feeling self-conscious—it feels like everyone is staring right at my "damaged" eye. You were probably thinking about a scleral lens, right? Those are used when the eye is still mostly there... you know, instead of being completely removed. It basically looks like a partial shell that fits over the front of your eyeball, moving naturally whenever your eye moves. I actually gave it a shot with Dr. Popijac up in Savannah, and man, let me tell you, that first sensation was terrifying... it felt like someone had shoved a tennis ball into my eye! That was the main reason I backed out, plus the doctor mentioned that the muscles could eventually atrophy from wearing it, which totally freaked me out. But... now that I think about it, I'm starting to reconsider. They cost around $500. They custom-make them and match the color so it looks as close to your good eye as possible. My ophthalmologist was the one who suggested Dr. Popijac because apparently, he is an amazing "artist" when it comes to painting them. However, his clinic is so run-down and depressing that I didn't really feel comfortable trusting him with it... so I might look around somewhere else.
I actually know a few people who wear ocular prosthetics, and for the most part, they are pretty seamless and convincing... (I heard Elvis Presley had an artificial eye—but that was a full prosthetic, and you could never even tell, right?). Anyway, please, if you happen to find out about any other places where these can be made, let me know! Good luck!👍

They’ve finished remodeling the workspace, so things are looking good now. As far as I recall, it isn't actually a medical clinic, but rather a private corporation specializing in manufacturing ocular prosthetics. The price for a temporary shell prosthesis is currently $467, while permanent ones require a prescription.

So, I actually went to them for my dental work...
I gotta say, I’m super happy with how it turned out. Those guys are seriously good at what they do. Honestly, I don't think I could've found better service anywhere else. 🙂
I have these green eyes, and everywhere else I've gone, they always totally missed the mark when trying to match the color, but these guys nailed it perfectly.

Major props to the crew in Savannah.

I’ve actually been wearing dentures myself ever since a little accident when I was just five years old, and now, twenty years later, I’m still rocking them. I’ve always gone to Dr. Popijac, and honestly, I couldn’t be happier—like, seriously, super satisfied! He absolutely nailed everything, from matching the exact shade to getting the texture of the gums just right... it's perfect. I’ve actually had seven different sets at home over the years, and this is my eighth. And you know what? Nobody ever even notices I have them unless I specifically tell them!

I’ve been using a prosthesis I had made back in 1996 during a trip to Italy, and honestly, I’m satisfied with it, even if I do deal with quite a bit of excessive saliva 😕. It was an expensive undertaking at the time, so I’ve decided to see Dr. Popijac now, and I will be sure to report back with my impressions of his work once I've seen him

I just finished my appointment with Dr. Popijac, and I have to say, I am thoroughly pleased with the results. This prosthetic is a massive step up from the one I had made back in Rome—though one must account for the fact that the old one was fitted fifteen years ago, and while it served me well at the time, age eventually takes its toll. I should also mention that the staff there are exceptionally courteous, and I will certainly be recommending them to anyone looking for quality work.

frozenorca492, how are you feeling about the eye movement? Is it super obvious that one side isn't moving as much, or do you really have to squint and look closely to even notice...

brighttiger11 said:frozenorca492, how satisfied are you with the eye's mobility—is it glaringly obvious that one side isn't moving quite as much, or do you really have to squint to notice the difference?

Regarding the range of motion, the discrepancy is detectable, though it isn't exactly screaming at you from across the room. Honestly, I don't think it's even possible to achieve perfect parity with a healthy eye—or even get close to it—simply because you're dealing with a prosthesis that sits atop the ocular structure rather than being an integrated part of the eye itself.

When are those prosthetics specialists from Germany heading back to San Diego to visit the association for the blind?

Okay, I just have to brag for a second because I finally bit the bullet and headed back out to V to see Dr. Popijac for another fitting. I picked up my prosthetic eye, and oh my gosh, I feel like a whole new person! It looks absolutely incredible. Sure, the fact that it doesn't move is a tiny drawback, but honestly? It’s almost impossible to tell unless you already know it’s there. I’ve had mine for about six months now, and not a single person—not even my closest friends—has noticed anything was off. Plus, once I pop on my glasses with those slightly tinted lenses, it’s a total game changer; nobody suspects a thing. The eye looks nearly identical to a healthy one... seriously, I can't imagine being without it anymore; it actually feels weird when I take it out! So, if you're on the fence, please don't be afraid! It’s super comfortable to wear, and after just a few minutes, your eye just adjusts completely. I’m actually kicking myself for hesitating the first time and waiting this long...

God,

So, I figured I’d jump in here too. Basically, after going through five or six surgeries on both eyes, I ended up with one eye that's totally blind and the other one being way worse than it used to be. The blind eye has started picking up these weird colors and looks pretty conspicuous, so I really want to find a way to mask it. Dr. Saric over at St. Jude recommended I see Dr. Popijac for his shell lens. I’m assuming that’s the prosthesis some of you were talking about.
What I actually wanted to ask is if anyone else is dealing with the same mess I am and how you guys handle it. I’m not exactly complaining, though—just a year ago, I couldn't see out of either eye, and now, thanks to this one functioning eye, I can work and drive and stuff... even if my vision is definitely weaker than it was before all these operations and headaches.
The real kicker is that I have artificial lenses in both eyes. They told me they were top-tier or whatever, blah blah blah... but they let in way too much light. It drives me crazy when it’s sunny out or on those bright winter days when the snow hits the light just right. I manage with sunglasses, but it’s a nightmare when I’m stuck in an office with sunlight streaming through the window. For computer work, I need reading glasses (plus another pair for tiny stuff like reading medication labels), and then I need different ones for driving. Driving at night is the biggest struggle because oncoming headlights just blind me completely. I try to avoid night driving as much as possible, but sometimes life just forces your hand.
I’m definitely heading to see Dr. Popijac, mostly so I can stop getting those mindless questions like, "Hey, what happened to your eye?"
I’d really love to hear how you all navigate the day-to-day grind.
Cheers!

Daniel White2 said:I have to say, I finally found the courage to head over to V in seeing Dr. Popijac for another fitting. I brought my prosthesis along, and honestly, I feel like a whole new person! It looks incredible. Sure, the lack of movement is a slight drawback, but it’s virtually impossible to tell unless you already know about it. I’ve been wearing mine for six months now, and not a single person—not even my closest friends—has noticed that the eye isn't real. Once I put on my glasses with lightly tinted lenses, it becomes completely undetectable. The eye looks almost identical to a natural one... I can't stand being without it anymore; it feels strange when I take it out. So, I highly recommend it to everyone: don't be afraid. It's quite comfortable once you get used to it; after just a few minutes, your eye adjusts perfectly. I actually regret hesitating the first time and waiting so long to get this done..

Could you please let me know what the cost is for a permanent prosthesis rather than just a trial one? I am dealing with a very similar situation. Best regards.

Nancy Howard75 said:Could you please let me know how much a legitimate orthodontic treatment—not just some trial run—actually costs? I'm dealing with a similar issue. Thanks!

I went in about eighteen months ago and specifically asked what the out-of-pocket cost would be if I didn't go through my insurance provider, and he quoted me roughly $1067 which, frankly, doesn't seem all that steep unless prices have spiked since then.

Karen Anderson said:I actually went to them for my braces...
And honestly, I couldn't be happier; those guys are just genuinely good at what they do. I mean, I doubt I could find that kind of quality anywhere else out there. 🙂
I have these green eyes that other places always seem to mess up when they try to match anything, but they nailed the color perfectly.

Major props to the crew in Chicago.

It’s such a shame that the other guy moved on to work somewhere else.

My brother took a glass to the head that actually shattered. The surgeons had to remove his eye because there was just no saving it—though they didn't take everything out; the muscles are still intact, and they’ve recommended a shell prosthesis. My brother has such beautiful eyes, so I am praying that God helps make this look seamless so he can just get back to living his life normally. If any of you have experience with this, some advice, or even just tips, please reach out. I’ll be sure to post an update once we wrap up our appointment with Dr. Miller. Thanks so much, and good luck to everyone!

Hi Christian Evans69.

Two years ago, my 16-year-old son was injured by a faulty firework. After several surgeries, battling scar tissue on the eye, and undergoing reconstruction on both eyelids, we visited Dr. Miller this past summer of 2013 regarding an ocular prosthesis. I should mention that while his eye was saved, the appearance is quite severe—the eyelid is partially closed, and the eyeball itself is dark red and scarred. He initially received a temporary shell prosthesis which he wore for about three months, followed by a permanent prosthesis that he’s had in for five months now. We are actually quite pleased with the prosthesis; while it’s noticeable that something isn't quite right, it looks almost identical to a healthy eye. In fact, unless someone knows he wears a prosthesis, they would probably just assume he has a mild case of strabismus. He adjusted to it very quickly, and since he's still a kid, I take it out once a week to clean it before putting it back in. I'm not sure how old your brother is, but perhaps he has already seen Dr. Miller. I hope he’s happy with the results. Feel free to DM me if you need anything else.
Best regards.

Does anyone know where I can pick up a vacuum pump? My hand's been giving me some trouble lately, so I really need one specifically designed for dental appliances. Has anyone tried using a medical-grade suction device instead? Would that actually work, or should I stick to finding a dedicated dental one if they're even available for purchase? Any advice would be huge, thanks everyone!!

Roger Hill36 said:Does anyone know where I can pick up a suction pump? I'm having some trouble with my hand, so I really need one specifically designed for ocular prosthetics. What are people's experiences with using standard medical suction pumps—do they actually work for this? Ideally, I’d love to find one made specifically for prosthetic use if they're available for purchase. Any help would be appreciated, thanks everyone.!?

I have an ocular prosthetic pump. Send me your address via PM and I'll get it sent out to you, or just shoot me a text.