Caring for Your Prosthetic Eye
How to Handle, Clean & Lubricate Your Ocular Prosthesis
Handling and Care
Your prosthetic eye maintenance can be very minimal if you follow a few important guidelines.
Sleeping in Your Prosthesis
It’s generally recommended that the prosthetic eye remain in the socket at all times, even during sleep. This ensures that the socket remains stable and healthy. If you need to briefly remove your prosthesis for cleaning, please follow your ocularist’s instructions.
Cleaning Your Prosthesis
Wash your hands thoroughly with gentle hand soap before handling the prosthesis. Never use any cleaning product containing alcohol — it can permanently damage the materials. Only use approved lubricating solutions to restore comfort and shine. Your prosthesis should be professionally cleaned and polished by your ocularist twice a year to remove the buildup of minerals and protein deposits.
Inserting & Removing Your Prosthesis
Each patient will learn how to properly insert and remove their prosthesis. Your ocularist will help you through this simple procedure. Reference materials will also be provided upon request for continued practice at home.
Lubrication
Prosthetic eye lubricants are suggested for most patients by our team of board-certified ocularists. These lubricants work to increase, or in necessary cases, mimic the human body’s natural tear production.
Here are the top prosthetic eye lubricants we recommend:
- Sil-Ophtho – A special medium viscosity silicone oil. Helps control both the irritation and discharge from the socket.
- Artificial Eye Lubricant – An all-natural aloe vera gel, sunflower oil, and vitamin E lubricant.
- Tears Again Eye Ointment – A mineral oil and white petrolatum sterile lubricant. Provides long-lasting nighttime relief from dry eye symptoms.
- Tears Again Eye Drops – A polyvinyl alcohol sterile lubricant. For the temporary relief of burning, irritation, and discomfort due to dryness of the eye.
- Retaine – Preservative-free lubricant eye drops. Provides long-lasting relief for moderate to severe dry eyes.
Each lubricant works by coating the surface of the prosthetic eye, providing increased comfort, stimulating blinking, and maintaining a natural life-like appearance.
Prosthetic eye lubricants are highly recommended for patients subject to prolonged exposure to the following conditions: air conditioning, computers, smartphones, wind, dry heat, extreme cold, smoke, or dust.