The oldest artificial eye was fashioned for a princess. It was made of hard natural tar. That had to be uncomfortable to wear! The princess would have had nothing to keep it lubricated.
Nearly five thousand years later, silicone eye drops have been developed to keep prosthetics comfortable. The lubricants are remarkably affordable, especially when you take into account the fact that they last long. These days, it doesn’t take a king’s ransom to have an ocular replacement, or to lubricate it.
The world’s oldest known artificial eye
It was discovered in the Middle East. Archaeologists found the 4,800 year old artificial eye in a female skeleton. The excavation was in the Burnt City in a province of Iran. A Professor of Optometry at the University of California at Berkeley was fascinated by the old prosthetic. The presence of the prosthetic eye actually helped determine who she was. In the words of the professor, “It’s unlikely such attention and effort would have been paid to a commoner…She (was) a member of a royal family.”
The world’s newest lubricant
Silicone is a modern miracle for prosthetic eye comfort. Of course, silicone has been around for a long time. But when chemists set out to meet the needs of people with ocular prosthetics, they looked at what the problems were first.
•Basically, tears don’t do the job. Plus, natural tears dry quickly. So do artificial tear drops sold in your neighborhood drug store.
•People wanted something that lasted, that was thicker and more comforting. It had to be safe and affordable.
The scientists turned to medical grade silicone. It was a known lubricant and had viscosity, which means it had thickness and adhesive qualities. Silicone would stick around. It had been used in other products on the body, so they knew it was safe. Chemists then got the approval of the FDA, which oversees the safety of cosmetic products.
100 silicone drops for ocular prosthetics were born. They immediately got raves from people who tried it. Here’s the experience of Kendra, who had only been using a 100 silicone product for two weeks: “I have noticed a substantial difference! I absolutely LOVE this product! The cold days don t bother my prosthesis like it did before. When we have the heater on in our car it doesn t bother it like it used to. This stuff for me is simply amazing!
She makes an important point. The silicone protective layer around the prosthesis protects against the drying that both cold and hot temperatures cause.
Avoiding Friction
A silicone prosthetic eye lubricant is an important part of maintaining the orb between polishing. An ocular prosthesis needs to be polished regularly. If it develops an uneven finish, it will be constantly irritating. A polishing is recommended at least once a year, according to the American Society of Ocularists.
The fact is friction from an improperly lubricated artificial eye wears down the surface, making it uneven. Silicone “lube” is designed to discourage friction. This is a remarkable improvement over older, saline artificial tears. Ocularists frequently praise products made with silicone, and recommend 100 silicone solutions to their patients.
Author Resource:
For a safe and affordable artificial eye lubricant, Roger suggests visiting the following site: http://www.ocuglide.com
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