Thomas' Prosthesis

Thomas had an appointment with his ocularist today.  (A new profession for a budding child artist to consider!)  An ocularist is someone who specializes in making and fitting prosthetic eyes.  Often for those who have lost an eye due to trauma or illness.

The ocularist does everything from taking an impression of the eye socket, shaping the prosthetic, painting the iris, and then fitting it just right for the patient.

Eye prosthetics are new to me, so Leslie explained it to me via FaceTime.  I took some screen shots for others, until we have time to take higher quality pictures.  But, I kind of like the FaceTime shots.  They bring a little humor.  :)

(This was being explained with Thomas' temporary prosthetic that he had for a few weeks.)

Notice the 'dots' on the side of this prosthetic.  As well as the oval shape.  This was a temporary - a generic prosthetic.  It didn't stay right in place very well due to the fact it wasn't really shaped specifically for Thomas' bone structure.  When it was first inserted, it was as Leslie is showing, with the dots on the sides.  Over a few weeks period of time, it had rotated a 1/4 turn, causing the eye to look misaligned.

This is Thomas' new prosthetic.  Notice how it is not 'oval' shaped.  Instead, it has been shaped to fit snugly into his specific bone structure which will help it not shift out of place.  The blue dot on top means "this is the top"  :)  It is held in by the eyelids and kind of fits like a puzzle piece with the eye socket bones.

 

 

The prosthesis is like a giant, thick, plastic contact lens.  To put it into place, you use this suction grabber thing.

It gets a nice strong hold on the prosthetic...

You then put the prosthetic in, starting at the top.  Put it under the top eyelid, up as high as you can (the bone structure will be a clue when you are high enough), and then lift the bottom eye lid out and put it in place!

Leslie has placed it a couple of times with the help of  her ocularist, Matt Milne.  So, she is prepared for when it pops out, or is knocked out of place due to brotherly love.


This is Thomas today after his ocularist appointment.  I dare you to guess which is the real and which is the prosthetic eye!  Incredible.  Matt is extremely talented at what he does.

Thomas is being seen at Archibald Maxillofacial Clinic in Toronto.  Matt Milne is a Board Certified Ocularist.