ARTIFICIAL EYE

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION RAW MATERIALS HISTORY WHO IS ELIGIBLE ? AIMS MAKING AN ARTIFICIAL EYE NORMAL & ARTIFICIAL VISION PRECAUTIONS ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION An artificial eye is a prosthetic device resembling the anterior surface of a normal eyeball. It is fitted under the upper and lower eyelid of an eye that has been removed. It does not function as well as the real eye and does not have crystal clear vision. The term may also refer to an ocular prosthetic.

RAW MATERIALS Plastic and glass are the main material that makes up the artificial eye. Wax and plaster of paris are used to make the molds. A white powder called alginate is used in the molding process. Paints and other decorating materials are used to add life-like features to the prosthesis.

HISTORY The very first artificial eyes were made by Roman and Egyptian priests as early as the 5th century BC. They were made of painted clay attached to cloth and worn outside the socket. .

HISTORY Centuries later, the first in-socket artificial eyes were made of gold, coated with coloured enamel. Then, in the later part of the sixteenth century, the Venetians started making artificial eyes out of glass.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE ? Those who had a severe Retinal Pigmentosa Those who are suffering from age-related macular degeneration

AIMS The aims with all artificial eye treatment is to help the patient through the operation of eye removal and to ensure the patient is happy with its appearance, its comfort and the psychology of having an eye socket without a natural eye.

AIMS The perfect artificial eye is one which: Is comfortable Shows good movement Looks normal to the observer Is easy to look after

A magnified image of an eye with AMD

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Four stages of Retinal Pigmentosa 2 1 3 4

Making an Artificial Eye Take an impression of the eye socket. Impression is encased in dental stone, which is very similar to plaster of paris. We obtain a wax piece that constitutes a pattern for the artificial eye. An iris button, similar to the pupil, iris, and cornea of the front of the eye is chosen and built into the wax pattern.

Making an Artificial Eye When satisfied with the wax pattern, we make a final mold of dental stone around it in a fiberglass flask. A thin layer of plastic is ground, filed and sanded from the front surface of the eye.

Making an Artificial Eye We then make a painting shell by placing a clear polyethylene. The coloring of the artificial eye is done with the greatest of care. When the color is judged to be correct, the eye is returned to the final mold and the layer of transparent acrylic is cured onto the front surface to protect the color.

Electrodes and stimulated neurons

NORMAL & ARTIFICIAL VISIONS Normal vision- Begins when light enters and strike on photoreceptor cells. These cells convert light to electric impulses that are sent to brain via optic nerves. Artificial vision- The camera captures images and sends to retina implant. It stimulates neurons. The stimulated neurons send information to brain via optic nerves.

PRECAUTIONS PROSTHESI DO NOT PLACE THE ARTIFICIAL EYE IN MOUTH;COULD CAUSE CHOKING AND/OR DEATH. DO NOT PLACE/ALLOW THE ARTIFICIAL EYE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH ALCOHOL OF ANY FORM. ALCOHOL WILL ABSORB INTO AND CAUSE CRAZING IN THE PROSTHESIS WHICH WILL CAUSEIRREPARABLE DAMAGE.

PRECAUTIONS IF THE PROSTHESIS CAUSES PAIN, REMOVE PROSTHESIS AND RETURN TO YOUR OPHTHALMOLOGIST AND/OR PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY. HANDLE WITH CARE. IE: DON’T DROP, SCRATCH, SCRAPE, OR THROW THEPROSTHESIS. KEEP AWAY FROM SOLVENTS AND CHEMICALS, WHICH CAN BE ABSORBED INTO PROSTHESIS.

ADVANTAGES Its shine and especially its natural appearance. The very smooth, hard and resistant surface with its particular good surface characteristics. A surface, that on basis of its manufacture technique is completely freely of elevation. The good moistening effect for covering the surface with tears.

DISADVANTAGES Surgery is required to implant the electrode array. Costly. The vision is restored partially Repairing is difficult if any of the devices got damaged. Those who lost their visions due to other reasons could not use this device. Life expectancy of an Ocular Prosthesis is 4.8 years.

CONCLUSION Revolutionary piece of technology. Good news for AMD and retinal pigmentosa patients.