Advice About Eyes

All Ophthalmic Offices have seen them –patients who have one normal eye and one eye that has been disfigured due to top trauma, or the result of multiple surgeries or birth defects. Typically, the Ophthalmologist will treat the functional eye but may not realize that the phthisis bulbi can be referred to the Ocularist for a Scleral Shell Prosthesis. The Ophthalmologist may have concerns about the age of the patient or the cost involved with having a Scleral Shell made, especially if the patient is elderly and Social Security is the only means of support.

Good News! Commercial Insurance Plans, AHCCCS and Medicare cover Scleral Shells for patients with little or no out of pocket expense. In general, most insurance companies recognize the Prosthetic Eye and Scleral Shell as medically necessary and not just cosmetic. Commonly, insurance will provide replacement of the Prosthetic Eye once every 5 years. Insurance will pay for polishes, refits and adjustments as needed once the initial eye is made.

The Scleral Shell is fabricated not only for aesthetic purposes but also to aid in lid function, eyelash directionality, proper tearing, and protection of sensitive cornea. Scleral Shells can eliminate corneal abrasion and ulceration resulting from the lids moving over scarred ocular surfaces. The Scleral Shell can be vaulted over the sensitive cornea so that the Shell moves freely in all directions of gaze.

Call our office and ask for Janeen for more information regarding insurance and Prosthetics benefits.

Regular bi-annual maintenance visits to the Ocularist keep the prosthetic eye free from protein deposits, scratches and debris. It affords the Ocularist an opportunity to view the tissues of the eye socket and evaluate the back of the prosthesis and its relation to those tissues. Proper fit and prosthesis condition are key in maintaining excellent socket health.

In order to guarantee the shapes and colors that have been so carefully built into the prosthesis and assure that they are not destroyed or distorted by improper polishing, the prosthesis must be polished by a professional Ocularist.