Dry Eye In Monocular Patients
*Corresponding Author: Okpara Victor Iheanacho, Department Of Ophthalmology, Nigeria.
Monocular patients with functional eye lids blink rapidly with ocular prosthesis in place. The ease if blinking is dependent on tears production, distribution (flow) and drainage. This process gives the patient optimal comfort during use of the natural eye. The flow of tears is eased by the presence of the tear film which helps to reduce evaporation of natural tears(oil or lipid based layer), lubricate and wash away particles, also preventing infection(done by the water or aqueous layer). All these are found in the natural eye but the prosthetic eye (acrylic eye).
In the prosthetic eye, tears flow through the smooth plastic surface in an irregular pattern, leaving crust of salt deposits on the prosthesis. These deposits are mostly found on the edge and the anterior surface. This causes sandy feeling to the patient. Sandy feeling may be a predisposition to bacterial conjunctivitis mostly reported in ocular prosthesis wearers with poor hygiene.
Indications:
- Sandy or pepperish feeling in the prosthetic eye
- Dry sensation
- Lid fatigue
- Dislodgement of ocular prosthesis
- Management
- Use of artificial tears
- Regular blinking
- Mild eye massage with prosthesis in place
- Six monthly polishing of prosthesis to remove salt deposits
- Fortnight cleaning of prosthesis with toilet soap and clean
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