Caring for Clients with an Eye Prosthesis

An ocular prosthesis is an artificial eye that is worn in the eye socket. It is often made of synthetic resin or glass. The prosthesis looks like a real eye and helps a person look their best and feel more comfortable.

• Most people remove the prosthesis once every 1 to 2 weeks to clean it. But some people hardly ever remove it. What feels comfortable varies from person to person. For older adults, it is recommended to leave the prosthesis in the eye socket as much as possible and to remove it only if there are symptoms, such as a stye.
• If someone has a cold or is in an air-conditioned room, discharge from the eye socket is more common, and the prosthesis needs to be cleaned more often.
• Use only lukewarm water, without soap or cleaning products.
• It is important that the client reinsert the prosthesis properly.
• If the client is experiencing significant discomfort due to discharge in the eye, it may help to have the ocularist polish the prosthesis or replace it. Caregivers can often send the prosthesis by mail after consulting with the ocularist.

A client with an ocular prosthesis may experience various symptoms. Common problems include irritation, a scratchy or stinging sensation, redness, and mucus or discharge in the eye socket. These issues can be caused by dirt or proteins on the prosthesis, a dry eye socket, or a prosthesis that does not fit properly. The eye socket can also change over time, causing the prosthesis to be too loose, sit too deep, or no longer fit properly. Sometimes the upper or lower eyelid droops, which makes wearing the prosthesis more difficult.

It is important for healthcare professionals to take symptoms seriously and to watch for changes in the eye socket or eyelid. Regular cleaning and proper moisturizing can alleviate mild symptoms. If the problems persist or worsen, a referral to an ocularist or ophthalmologist is necessary. They can polish or adjust the prosthesis, or determine whether further treatment is needed. Regular checkups help maintain comfort and prevent complications.

• A broken denture should no longer be worn.
• Contact the ocularist for repairs or replacement.
• Advise the client to keep a spare denture on hand.

Learn more about caring for an ocular prosthesis on this page.

• The ocularist: for a checkup, repair, or a new prosthesis.
• The ophthalmologist: for pain, inflammation, or problems with the eye socket.
• OOG in OOG Association: for information, personal stories, and connecting with others in similar situations.