UK contact details

Robin Brammar Ocularist
Westgate
75 Alderley Road
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 1PA
UK

Tel: 00 44 (0) 1625 530 444
Fax: 00 44 (0) 1625 536 886
Email: info@robinbrammar.co.uk

Ireland contact details

Ranelagh Eye Clinic
Ranelagh Medical Centre
22-26 Sandford Road
Dublin 6
Ireland

(Secretary)
Tel: 00 353 (0) 1418 8442

use and care advice

Each patient is individually assessed and advised. Factors such as lifestyle, environment, and climatic differences may affect the advice given. However, below are some general guidance notes:

Use & Care Of Surgical Conformers

Insertion

Wash hands thoroughly

  1. Place conformer flat on lower eyelid.
  2. Look downwards.
  3. Lift the upper eyelid and gently push the conformer upwards under the upper eyelid.
  4. Look downwards and position the lower eyelid over the lower edge of the conformer.

 

Removal

Use a plastic extractor to remove the conformer using the following procedure:

  1. Touch the conformer with extractor tip.
  2. Push lower eyelid down with extractor until tip is beneath conformer
    edge.
  3. Look upwards as the handle of the extractor is brought downwards until
    nearly flat to the cheek.
  4. Look downwards and the conformer is normally expelled.

 

Cleaning

The conformer should be removed and cleaned with cooled boiled water twice a day unless otherwise instructed.

N.B. It is important to keep the holes in the conformer clear as they allow ventilation, drainage and irrigation, which are very important in the healing process.

Use & Care Of Artificial Eye (Ocular artificial eye / prosthetic eye)

Insertion

  1. Wash hands thoroughly.
  2. Place artificial eye on lower eyelid.
  3. Look downwards.
  4. Lift the upper eyelid and gently push the artificial eye upwards under the upper eyelid and hold in position. Look straight ahead and position the lower eyelid over the lower edge of the artificial eye.

 

Removal

Wash hands thoroughly and use a plastic extractor to remove the artificial eye using the following procedure:

  1. Touch the artificial eye with extractor tip.
  2. Slide the tip and lower eyelid down with extractor tip until the tip is beneath the bottom edge of the artificial eye.
  3. Look upwards as the handle of the extractor is brought downwards until nearly flat to the cheek.
  4. Look downwards and the artificial eye is normally expelled.

Please note that gentle pressure applied to the upper eyelid can sometimes help to tilt the bottom edge of the artificial eye outwards to assist removal.

 

Cleaning

A HARD contact lens cleaner should be used to clean the artificial eye (it is not recommended that hand soap or washing-up liquid are used as cleaners). The cleaning procedure is as follows:

  1. Remove artificial eye and place it on palm of hand.
  2. Put a few drops of hard contact lens solution onto the artificial eye and gently rub over all surfaces.
  3. Rinse the artificial eye thoroughly in sterile saline ensuring all the cleaner has been removed.
  4. The artificial eye is now ready to be re-inserted.

 

General Points

It is very important to wash hands thoroughly before inserting or removing the artificial eye for any reason.

The artificial eye should be removed and cleaned when it becomes sticky, dry and uncomfortable to wear. The frequency of this may vary from a few days to a couple of months.

If dropped the artificial eye is unlikely to break, however, to minimise the risk of scratching or fracture great care must be taken when inserting and removing the artificial eye.

It is recommended that the artificial eye should be checked and polished annually.

Cleaning

Your artificial eye need only be cleaned occasionally. You may sleep with your artificial eye in, in fact it is advisable to do so. However, when it is removed, it should be cleaned by using hard contact lens cleaner, as the most common problem is irritation and watering caused by a protein build up.

If not cleaned correctly this protein will collect upon the surface of the artificial eye as a crystalline coating will eventually make the artificial eye feel gritty. The socket lining and the inner surface of the eyelids may become inflamed and sore in extreme cases.

Annual check ups and replacements

You are advised to return annually for a check up when any small fitting changes will be assessed and your artificial eye will be repolished to remove deposits and any scratches. You will be advised when your artificial eye needs to be replaced. This can be required every two to five years as your body is constantly changing but this timescale varies considerably from patient to patient.

Use & Care Of Cosmetic Shell Prosthesis

Insertion

  1. Wash hands thoroughly.
  2. Place cosmetic shell on lower eyelid.
  3. Look downwards.
  4. Lift the upper eyelid and gently push the cosmetic shell upwards behind the upper eyelid and hold in position. Look straight ahead and position the lower eyelid over the lower edge of the cosmetic shell.

 

Removal

  1. Wash hands thoroughly.
  2. Look upwards.
  3. Pull lower eyelid down until the lower edge of the cosmetic shell is exposed.
  4. Pull lower eyelid horizontally towards ear.
  5. Look downwards, this should cause the cosmetic shell to be expelled over the lower lid.

 

Cleaning

A HARD contact lens cleaner should be used to clean the shell (it is not recommended that hand soap or washing-up liquid are used as cleaners). The cleaning procedure is as follows:

  1. Remove shell and place it on palm of hand.
  2. Put a few drops of hard contact lens solution onto the shell and gently rub over all surfaces.
  3. Rinse the shell thoroughly in sterile saline ensuring that all the cleaner has been removed.
  4. The shell is now ready to be re-inserted.

 

General Points

It is very important to wash hands thoroughly before inserting or removing the shell for any reason.

The shell should be removed and cleaned at least once a day and wearing time is as advised by the clinician.

You should not wear your cosmetic shell whilst sleeping.

If dropped the shell is unlikely to break, however, to minimise the risk of scratching or fracture great care must be taken when inserting and removing the shell.

It is recommended that the cosmetic shell prosthesis should be checked and polished annually.

Use & Care Of Facial/Body Prostheses

Fitting

  1. Wash hands.
  2. Ensure that the artificial eye is clean and dry and that all trace of any previously applied adhesive is removed.
  3. Apply a thin coat of adhesive (approximately 5mm wide) onto the back surface of the artificial eye close to its edge.
  4. Allow a little time for the adhesive to become tacky.
  5. Position the artificial eye onto the skin and secure by applying gentle pressure towards the edge of the artificial eye.

Please note that care should be taken to avoid any adhesive coming into contact with the front surface of the artificial eye.

 

Removal

  1. Wash hands.
  2. Gently ease the artificial eye away from the skin taking care to avoid tearing any thin areas of the artificial eye.
    1. Clean the artificial eye immediately.

 

Suggested Adhesives

Available from: Technovent Limited, Headingly House, 39 St Michael’s Lane, Leeds LS6 3BR
Tel: 0113 293 8180, Email: info@technovent.com

© 2008 Robin Brammar Ocularist, All rights reserved.
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