Customizing a Cryolite Glass Prosthetic Eye

Summary

This manuscript shows each step of customizing a cryolite glass prosthetic eye including some major advantages of the use of cryolite glass for manufacturing an eye prosthesis compared to poly(methyl methacrylate). In addition, this manuscript gives ophthalmologists better insight into the ocularistic care that could improve interprofessional collaboration.

Abstract

In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, over 90% of ocularists still manufacture customized prostheses using cryolite glass from Thuringia. The present manuscript demonstrates this long-forgotten technique in detail. This manuscript shows some major advantages of manufacturing prosthetic eyes using cryolite glass in comparison to poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). These advantages include a lighter weight of the prosthesis, higher levels of patient satisfaction, and only one appointment necessary for the customized manufacturing. Potential risk of breakage seems not to be a critical disadvantage for glass prosthetic eye wearers. However, in some patients, manufacturing a well-fitting prosthetic eye is not possible or reasonable due to anophthalmic socket complications such as post nucleation socket syndrome, scarred fornices, or an orbital implant exposure. This article gives ophthalmologists a better insight into ocularistic care in order to improve the essential interprofessional collaboration between ocularists and ophthalmologists.

Introduction

The purpose of the present manuscript is to comprehensively demonstrate the technique of manufacturing a customized cryolite glass prosthetic that is long forgotten outside the German-speaking countries (Figure 1). This manuscript also focuses on major advantages of this technique. These include a very smooth surface of the prosthesis due to fire polishing, the light weight of the prosthesis due to the hollow design, high levels of patient satisfaction, and the need of only one appointment for manufacturing of the customized prosthesis^1,2,3,....

Protocol

All procedures performed in the following protocol involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee of the University of Cologne and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

1. Prosthetic eye customization

1. Select one of the "half-done" cryolite glass eyes based on the best matching iris color to the healthy fellow eye of the patient (Figure 3).
2. Examine the fitting of the current prosthetic eye. To do so, let the patient look straight ahead. Pay special atte....

Results

Optimal results include a new prosthetic cryolite glass eye that fits very well, is comfortable, has a good motility, and the appearance with the prosthetic eye, including the eye lid contour, is nearly symmetrical to the healthy fellow eye (Figure 12).

Suboptimal results can result if the new prosthetic cryolite glass eye fits and is comfortable, but there are concerns regarding the cosmetic results. If a prosthesis does not fit perfectly, the appearance, includi.......

Discussion

Following enucleation with an orbital implant, a conformer has to be inserted for two weeks (Figure 1) in order to prevent scarring of the conjunctival fornices and subsequent inserting of a prosthesis^{2,3,4,7,12,13}. Because an early ocular prosthesis insertion improves quality of life after enucl.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Bunsen burner with gas and air flow over a fire-resistant worktop made from anodised stainless steel
Hollow skewer
Ocularist forceps
Preheated metal container to 500 degree celsius
Pre-produced "half-done" cryolite glass eye
Transparent glass stem
Various preproduced glass stems in different colors