If you have been in a recent accident, have eye cancer, or your eye is irreparably damaged due to any other reason, you may want to consider getting a prosthetic eye, also known as a glass eye.
Below are some commonly asked questions about prosthetic eyes.
When Are Prosthetic Eyes Needed?
A prosthetic eye replaces an eye lost due to a traumatic injury or disease, such as cancer or glaucoma.
What Are Artificial Eyes Made Of?
“Glass eyes” are not made out of glass anymore. Instead, they are implants that are spherical and made of medical-grade plastic acrylic. It requires significant skill to make an artificial eye look as natural as possible, and a match for the remaining eye, if one eye remains.
Can A Prosthetic Eye Move Like A Normal Eye?
Generally yes. It depends on the type of implant the surgeon selects when replacing the eye that is removed.
After your eye is removed during a surgical procedure called enucleation, your doctor will attach the muscles that controlled your natural eye to an implant that will support your prosthetic eye. Although you won’t be able to see with the eye, attaching the muscles to the implant will allow you to move the eye in tandem with your other eye.
Additional cosmetic procedures on the eyelids and other structures surrounding the prosthetic eye also can enhance the final outcome.
In many cases, a pair of fashionable eyeglasses with impact-resistant lenses can make it nearly impossible for onlookers to know you have a prosthetic eye.
How Often Does a Prosthetic Eye Need to Be Replaced?
The materials of a prosthetic eye will last for at least ten years. However, most people will need a replacement at approximately 3-5 years due to the settlement of soft tissue in the eye socket.
Does Insurance Cover the Cost of an Artificial Eye?
Most insurance policies cover the cost of an artificial eye prosthesis. Coverage for a prosthetic eye is not covered under a vision policy. We recommend checking with your insurance policy to learn what is and is not covered.
At Lakeline Vision Source, we put your family's needs first. Talk to us about how we can help you maintain healthy vision. Call us today: 512-918-3937 or book an appointment online to see one of our Cedar Park eye doctors.
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