Q. How do I care for my artificial eye?
A. General care instructions:

• For cleaning: Rinse eye and socket with Normal Saline Solution (eye wash) twice daily, without removing the prosthesis*. This can be accomplished by partially filling an eyecup, holding this against your socket, then tip head back while moving your eye back and forth. Some patients prefer to just "squirt" the socket directly from the bottle. Many bottles come with a nipple-type top, which makes it fairly convenient to direct the stream of saline. Rarely should the eye be removed to clean the socket - however, exceptions do occur. If you have a cold or allergies, you may need to increase the number of times you clean your eye per day.
  
  Saline Solution can be purchased anywhere contact lens products are sold.
  
• For lubrication: For the average artificial eye wearer, Safflower Oil** has been found to be an excellent lubrication for the socket (it does not thicken in cold weather). Start with one drop as needed. Some prefer to just use this oil at night around the eyelids to prevent normal nighttime secretions from becoming overly dry; instead, the oil softens the secretion which lessens the amount of "scratching" damage done to the eye in the morning due to dried up drainage. Safflower Oil may be purchased at any grocery store - use the bottle for cooking, reserving a little for your eye. (RMA will provide you with a bottle for this application.)
  
  A second lubrication choice, generally found at health food stores, is Coconut Oil. Again, it is not necessary to remove the artificial eye to apply the lubrication.
  
  Another lubrication choice is Refresh PM (available generically). This is an over-the-counter lubricant, which has been highly recommended by my patients. It looks like Vaseline, only it "melts" quicker. Other Refresh Brand products to try are Refresh Liquigel and Refresh Endura.
  
  For those patients needing a heavier lubricant, a silicone oil may be purchased from Factor II at 1-800-332-8688 - specify light (medium, heavy, and extra heavy are also available). Factor II also has their own brand in light, heavy, or extra heavy. Note: the silicone oil may interfere with medicinal drops being used - you may need to discontinue or delay use while using the medication.
  
• A professional polishing A professional polishing is recommended at least once a year.
  
  *For those patients wearing a "shell eye" (one that fits over an existing eye), removal of the prosthesis at night may be necessary.

**Reference: Guibor & Gougelmann (eds.): Problems and Treatment of Enucleation, Eviseration, Exposure, vol. 2, p. 239: The Dry Socket - A New Lubricant, Noble, Hill & Webb. Stratton Intercontinental Medical Book Corporation, 381 Park Ave. South, NY, NY 10016.

QUESTIONS? Call 303.973.8482.

Typical surgical conditions and recommendations:

• Superior Sulcus Deformity
• Ptosis of the upper lid
• Ptosis of the lower lid
• Implant replacement
• Other_______________________________________________________

Daily Care & Restoration of Your Prostheses*

<< back to FAQs