Fabrication of eye prosthesis by using a new technique to secure & orient the eye shell during processing: a case report

Introduction: Eye prosthesis is a kind of craniofacial prosthesis that replaces a missing or lost natural eye following an evisceration, enucleation or exenteration. Evisceration is a process in which just the contents of the eye ball are removed, in enucleation whole eye ball is removed and if there should arise an occurrence of exenteration eye ball along with its neighbouring supporting structures are expelled. Prosthetic rehabilitation of such cases should be possible by utilizing ocular prosthesis, orbital prosthesis and orbital prosthesis replacing the contiguous supporting tissues respectively. Background: A 37-year-old male patient visited the Department of Prosthodontics with a big concern about the difference in colour and size of the present artificial eye. Patient also gave history of trauma to the left eye 6 years back and the usage of the eye prosthesis for the last 3 years. Method: The patient was treated with ocular prosthesis by utilizing advanced impression technique to accurately record tissue surface of the eye socket and modified laboratory technique to help in holding the eye shell immovably in position with the assistance of a stainless-steel orthodontic wire. Conclusion: The current technique used to protect the eye shell during processing, combined with the modified functional impression technique allowed the artificial eye to move in harmony with the natural eye of the patient without being dislodged by movements.