The loss of an eye can be particularly an emotional and worrying time for anyone. This can be particularly so when it involves children. Obviously the child, parents and family and friends can initially find this difficult and will understandably be concerned and worried.

However with the right care and attention from your ocularist and other professionals concerned this can be alleviated. The correct information can assist you in understanding what will happen, and how to deal with the practical side of eye loss.

The procedure of fitting an ocular prosthesis to a child is similar in manner to that of an adult requiring a number of appointments with the ocularist in order to achieve optimal fit, comfort and appearance. Additionally care will be taken to ensure that the child is proficient in being able to fit, remove and care for their prosthesis.

At this point it should be stressed that due to the high quality of materials used in the manufacture of the prosthesis that it is very durable and will survive a great deal. This is particularly necessary with the lifestyle of children.

Infants and children will require special attention and should have their artificial eyes checked at regular intervals. Usually a larger eye should be fitted each year to bring on stretching of the lids and development of the eye socket. If this is not done it can affect future growth and comfort.

Children as young as 6 months of age can be fitted with a prosthesis. It is important to start early in the child's life to help minimize asymmetry which can occur as the child grows and develops. Children younger than 6 months are fit with a conformer to help promote growth in the orbit.  

                                                                                                     
Initially however, particularly with children, it is important that they get used to having the eye removed and replaced, some Ocularists recommend that the eye is removed, washed in cool boiled water and replaced once a day, others will tell you less frequently, but the important thing is to get your child used to it as soon as possible. When the child is used to this, or even doing it themselves, a balance can be found. It is important to clean around the eye, even if the eye itself is not removed. This again can be done with cool, boiled water.

The most common reasons that a child may need an artificial eye are either via illness or through unfortunate cases such as an accident to the eye or socket.

Retinoblastoma is the most common malignancy that can affect child's eye. It is a childhood cancer caused by immature retinal cells in either one or both eyes. It will generally appear in a child between the ages of 6 months and 3 years of age. An early diagnosis followed by the correct treatment will ensure that this is successful handling of this disease.