{"id":6177,"date":"2026-07-13T17:36:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T15:36:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/bibliotheek\/the-psychological-impact-of-an-eye-prosthesis-on-children\/"},"modified":"2026-09-09T17:06:38","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T15:06:38","slug":"the-psychological-impact-of-an-eye-prosthesis-on-children","status":"publish","type":"library_pt","link":"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/en\/library\/family-and-friends\/the-psychological-impact-of-an-eye-prosthesis-on-children\/","title":{"rendered":"The Psychological Impact of an Eye Prosthesis on Children"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-13T15:19:24.464Z\">13 July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Does the way an eye is removed affect how parents and children cope with it?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes, that makes a big difference. Sometimes an eye removal is scheduled. For example, if an eye is blind and painful due to an illness or a congenital abnormality. In those cases, the parents and child often know for some time that the eye needs to be removed. They can prepare for it, even if only briefly.<br \/>But sometimes everything happens very quickly. With retinoblastoma, parents are sometimes told within a week that their child has cancer and that the eye must be removed immediately. At first, you might think it\u2019s just an infection, and a few days later, everything has changed. That\u2019s very intense and difficult to process. What I often see is that parents of children who are later cancer-free struggle even more. Medically, their child is healthy, but emotionally, a lot has happened. That\u2019s when the healing process really begins. With accidents, such as those involving fireworks, there\u2019s absolutely no warning. That increases the risk of trauma.\u201d            <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Can parents&#8217; stress affect how a child copes with getting an ocular prosthesis?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes, that\u2019s certainly possible. Stress and emotions often affect the whole family. Still, it\u2019s not always a one-to-one relationship. Parents may react calmly, yet a child can still experience trauma. And conversely, a child may be doing well, while the parents are having a very hard time.\u201d    <em> <\/em>We also see that the medical process isn\u2019t the whole story. Sometimes it\u2019s very difficult, but dealing with the ocular prosthesis is actually easy. Sometimes the medical side is straightforward, but there\u2019s still a lot of anxiety about the prosthesis. It\u2019s impossible to predict. Every child and every family is different.    <em> <\/em>&#8220;One thing is clear: a high-stress, tense environment doesn&#8217;t help anyone\u2014not the child, not the parents, and not the care team either. That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s important to take a moment together to reflect on what&#8217;s happening and what everyone needs.&#8221;  <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>What makes it difficult to cope with an ocular prosthesis at a young age?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat we often see is that young children really want to be in control. This is especially true for children between the ages of two and four. That\u2019s actually the most challenging age to start using an ocular prosthesis. They\u2019re still too young to really do it on their own, but they do want to decide for themselves what happens. Or, conversely, they might refuse to cooperate at all. That can quickly lead to conflicts. And if you get caught up in that, you run the risk of causing trauma. We really want to prevent that, because then you\u2019re already far off track. We know that experiences like that can have a major impact.\u201d        <em> <\/em>&#8220;That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s so important for the entire process to go as smoothly and easily as possible. If putting the prosthesis on and taking it off is easy and hassle-free, that&#8217;s a huge benefit. It helps children cope better with it and adjust to it step by step.&#8221;  <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Why is clear language so important for young children?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLanguage and communication are incredibly important, especially in the hospital. This is especially true for young children under the age of five, who still have a lot of magical thinking. I always tell parents, \u2018Choose your words very carefully.\u2019 If an eye has to be removed and you say, \u2018You\u2019re getting a new eye,\u2019 you need to immediately add that the new eye can\u2019t see. I prefer to use words like \u2018prosthetic eye\u2019 or \u2018artificial eye.\u2019 Otherwise, children might think they\u2019ll be able to see again, and that can cause panic and sadness when the prosthesis is fitted.\u201d     <strong><em> <\/em><\/strong>I&#8217;ve seen it happen several times that children here got completely stuck because of this. It&#8217;s truly heartbreaking. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to always involve children in what\u2019s happening\u2014even if they can\u2019t make decisions on their own. Even with babies, you explain: \u201cYour eye is sick,\u201d or \u201cYour eye isn\u2019t working right,\u201d and that\u2019s why something needs to be done. We do the same as a team. You shouldn\u2019t just take a child by surprise. Children form memories very early on and can be traumatized even at a young age. A good, honest explanation tailored to the child\u2019s level really makes a difference.\u201d      <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>What is the best approach with young children?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s very important not to overwhelm a child, but to practice together calmly. You have to pay close attention to what a child can handle. Don\u2019t push past their limits, but keep practicing and do so consistently.  <strong> <\/strong>When a child is able to do something on their own depends on their development. If a child can dress themselves or brush their teeth, you can gently offer them something to do with the denture. Start very small: first touching it, then holding the suction cup, wiggling it around, and only later actually practicing with the eye. This is a step-by-step process. Practice should be done without coercion, but with a little clear guidance. For example, you can say, \u201cLet\u2019s give it a try,\u201d and then set a timer\u2014just like when brushing teeth.      <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a child resists, it\u2019s important to break everything down into very small steps. Every small step they manage is a success, and you should reward them for it. It can be something small, like dancing together for a moment. This is often nerve-wracking for parents, too. Guidance from a professional, such as an ocularist or psychologist, can help. Every child is different. Sometimes there\u2019s trauma underlying the resistance. If you address that, the practice often goes better.\u201d       <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>What can make eye contact difficult for children with an ocular prosthesis?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I always try to look at the good eye myself. That keeps the connection calmer and clearer. This is especially important with young children. If you keep switching from one eye to the other, it can make a child feel as if the connection is constantly breaking. And when you want to explain something or reassure someone, you want to stay connected.    <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is also an issue for older children and teenagers. Many teenagers say, \u201cPeople are always staring at my artificial eye.\u201d Then I explain that this actually makes perfect sense. People automatically look at both eyes. Many parents and young people don\u2019t realize that. When you explain it, it often brings more peace of mind and understanding. These are small things, but they do make a difference.\u201d      <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>What does starting a new school mean for a child with an eye prosthesis?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA transition, such as from elementary school to high school, is especially nerve-wracking. New people, new groups. Who do you tell, and who don\u2019t you tell? We\u2019re often in favor of openness, but it\u2019s also a personal matter. You don\u2019t tell everyone that you have a crown in your mouth, either. It shouldn\u2019t be something to be ashamed of, but it doesn\u2019t always have to be shared either.\u201d     <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Uncertainty is normal among adolescents: Do I fit in? Do others like me? With an ocular prosthesis or an eye condition, that feeling can be even stronger. This also applies to parents. Out of fear, they may become overly protective. But a child must be able to develop freely. If everything becomes intimidating, fear can grow. That\u2019s something I always point out to parents.\u201d      <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>How do children with an ocular prosthesis fare as they get older?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSome of the children continue to experience symptoms on a daily basis even later in life. About one-third experience physical problems, such as difficulty with depth perception or coping with the prosthesis. This can persist into adolescence and adulthood. In addition, scientific research shows that about a quarter experience social or emotional problems. This is particularly evident among adolescents, for whom appearance becomes more important. They become especially self-conscious about their eye or prosthesis and often think that others notice it immediately. This can lead to insecurity and lower self-confidence. For a smaller group\u2014about ten to fifteen percent\u2014social or relationship problems persist. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to continue paying attention, even later in life, to how people feel and cope with their ocular prosthesis.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Why is it important for ophthalmologists to also pay attention to the mental and social aspects, in both children and adults?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy message to ophthalmologists is: \u2018Stay alert to this and ask about it during patient consultations.\u2019 There is a relatively large group of children and adults who experience mental or social difficulties due to an eye condition or an ocular prosthesis.\u201d <strong><em> <\/em><\/strong>Prevention is very important in this regard. If you pay attention to how someone is feeling right from the start, you can prevent many problems later on. Sometimes just a few conversations are enough\u2014simply explaining things, offering support, and providing practical guidance. This helps children and adults feel seen and heard, and it prevents psychosocial problems. And if you notice that problems persist, refer them promptly for psychological treatment so they don\u2019t fall behind in school or at work.     <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Are there any positive effects of these traumatic experiences?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes, definitely. There are definitely such cases. We call that post-traumatic growth. Or, as I sometimes call it, \u2018growth after hardship.\u2019 What you often see is that people who have gone through something very traumatic also develop strengths. They discover that they can handle more than they thought.\u201d     <strong> <\/strong>Children and parents learn: we\u2019ve survived this; we can handle difficult situations. That gives them strength and self-confidence. It creates a sense that, no matter how bad it was, everything turned out all right. You carry that confidence with you for the rest of your life. And that\u2019s also very valuable.\u201d    <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Supportive Language Use<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On <a href=\"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/bibliotheek\/kinderen-en-jongeren\/leestips-van-kinderpsycholoog-mieke-ouwendijk\/\">this page<\/a>, Mieke offers tips on what kind of language can be helpful and provides links to useful websites.<strong><em><br \/><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What does it mean for a child when one of their eyes has to be removed? Clinical psychologist Mieke Ouwendijk works at the Emma Children\u2019s Hospital and supports children with an ocular prosthesis and their families. She explains what children need, the challenges parents face, and why addressing their emotional needs is just as important as medical eye care.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":6178,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_daextauttol_enable_tooltips":""},"library_cat":[114,118],"class_list":["post-6177","library_pt","type-library_pt","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","library_cat-family-and-friends","library_cat-living-with-an-eye-prosthesis"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/library_pt\/6177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/library_pt"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/library_pt"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"library_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ver-ooginoog.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/library_cat?post=6177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}