FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who needs artificial eyes?
Anyone, rich or poor, old or young, male or female. In New Zealand
eye loss is due to accidents (61%), medical conditions like cancer
or glaucoma (30%) and congenital disorders such as
microphthalmia (9%). Men lose their eyes more frequently than
women (62% versus 38%) and at a younger age (the median age
for
men is
22 years and women 56 years). Right eyes are lost
marginally more frequently than left eyes. (55% versus 45%)
How many people in NZ wear artificial eyes?
Part of Keith Pine's current PhD research is to investigate the biosocial profile of artificial eye wearers in New Zealand so later this year he should be able to provide a more accurate answer to this question. In the meantime an educated guess would make it about 3,000.
What are some problems associated with wearing an artificial eye?
When patients first lose their eye their initial problems getting used to judging distance and reduced side vision and getting good advice. Patients whose occupations involve face to face contact with the public are more concerned about their appearance and reduced visual range than those whose jobs do not involve the public. After a couple of years the initial problems generally fade away and milder concerns about socket discharge (sleep in the eye) and shrinkage of the orbital tissues due to aging take their place. The good news is that modern surgical techniques are available to counter the shrinkage and good artificial eye care reduces the discharge.
Do people have to change their artificial eyes periodically? What about children?
Adults should replace their artificial eyes every 8 to 10 years to keep pace with changes to the socket. Childrens' eyes are replaced every 2 or 3 years to keep pace with growth.
How do today's artificial eyes compare to those of days gone by?
For 3 hundred years artificial eyes were made of glass and fitted by optometrists. When plastic was invented in the 1930s it was quickly adopted by dental technicians as a denture base material. It was then found to be a better material than glass for making artificial eyes. This is why most artificial eyes today are made and fitted by members
of the dental profession rather than by members of the optometry profession.
Keith Pine has been an ocularist for more than 30 years; what made him go into this field?
"I was fortunate to have the opportunity to train as a maxillofacial prosthetist while employed as a dental technician
at the Plastic Surgical Dental Unit at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland. I trained for a further year at Queen Mary's Hospital, East Grinstead, England. This is where New Zealanders Sir Archibald McIndoe and then Sir Harold Gillies pioneered many plastic surgical techniques when treating wounded soldiers in WW1 and WW2. I've always been enthusiastic about ocular prosthetics and later completed a BSc in psychology to help me give proper advice to patients. I am currently working on a PhD thesis entitled Factors Affecting Artificial Eye Wear."
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