Conformer therapy is a general term used to describe the fitting of clear plastic stents over time to develop the eye socket for optimal prosthetic eye results.  This fitting method is particularly effective in treating children with anophthalmia or microphthalmia and adults with mild to severe socket contraction.  In both cases the conformers are designed to help expand the orbit and opening of the eyelids.

While originally designed with these particular cases in mind, this rehabilitative fitting method has been suggested by some ocularists for treatment on all patients.  Under normal circumstances following an enucleation or evisceration surgery, extensive stent conformer therapy is not needed nor recommended by most oculoplastic surgeons.  Following normal and acceptable surgical outcomes, aggressive postoperative conformer therapy can actually be detrimental to the healing eye socket.

During your surgical procedure, your surgeon may elect to fit you with an acrylic postoperative surgical conformer.  This clear plastic shield will both protect the healing eye socket and maintain the integrity of the socket’s soft tissue.  It is recommended that you continue to wear this conformer until your first visit with your ocularist, typically 6-8 weeks following surgery.  At that time your ocularist will decide if a custom made conformer will better suit your individual needs.

Manipulation of the eye socket following surgery should not be standard fitting practice, unless directly suggested or monitored by your referring physician.  Doing so without medical necessity can be detrimental to the eye sockets soft tissue development; negatively affecting the comfort and cosmesis of the final prosthesis.  Any claim that extensive ocular conformer therapy will enhance the movement of a prosthesis is unsubstantiated and potentially harmful.

At Ocular Prosthetics, Inc. we encourage every patient to be an active participant in their treatment course.  That includes asking questions throughout the process to address any concerns.  If you or someone you know is in need of a prosthetic eye or scleral shell, please contact our offices today for more information.  We look forward to providing you with the highest quality prosthesis available today!

 

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