Will I be able to wear an artificial eye?

Yes, the great majority of patients are fitted with a custom-made artificial eye (a thin shell that sits over the implant, made by a specialist ocularist) within 6–8 weeks of surgery.

Will the artificial eye move?

Modern orbital implants are sutured to the eye muscles, allowing useful movement of the artificial eye that often appears very natural.

How often is the artificial eye replaced?

A custom artificial eye is typically replaced every 5–7 years and polished annually by your ocularist.

Orbital

Eye removal, socket reconstruction & artificial eye care

Compassionate, considered care when an eye must be removed, and long-term management of the artificial eye and socket that follows.

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Summary

When an eye is blind and painful, severely injured, or harbours a tumour, removal can sometimes be the right choice. The aim of surgery is two-fold: to relieve pain or treat disease, and to leave a healthy, comfortable socket that holds a natural-looking artificial eye. This is some of the most personal and considered work I do, and I take time to talk through every step.

Who is this for?

Patients commonly considered for eye removal include:

a blind, painful eye after long-standing trauma or end-stage glaucoma,
a severely injured eye that cannot be saved,
selected patients with intra-ocular tumour requiring enucleation,
congenitally small or malformed eyes (microphthalmia, anophthalmia) requiring socket expansion.

I also see many patients with established, long-standing artificial eyes for ongoing socket care, a frequent reason for review even when the original surgery was elsewhere.

What the procedure involves

There are three principal operations:

Enucleation: removal of the entire eyeball, with placement of a porous orbital implant and reattachment of the eye muscles.
Evisceration: removal of the contents of the eye, leaving the outer shell in place; an implant is placed within the shell. Typically a less invasive procedure with quicker recovery.
Exenteration: removal of all the orbital contents, reserved for advanced malignancy.

Most procedures are performed under general anaesthetic. A clear protective shell is placed in the socket at the end of surgery to maintain its shape until your custom artificial eye is made.

Recovery and what to expect

Overnight stay is usual.
The pad and shield are removed in clinic at 1–2 weeks.
Bruising and swelling settle over 4–6 weeks.
The first artificial eye is fitted by a specialist ocularist around 6–8 weeks after surgery.
Long-term follow-up is essential to manage socket health, lid position and any late changes around the implant.

Risks and alternatives

Risks include bleeding, infection, implant exposure or extrusion (uncommon), contracture of the socket, and lower-lid laxity over time. Long-term care often involves small adjustments to keep the socket comfortable and the artificial eye sitting well.

Where the diagnosis allows, eye-sparing alternatives are always considered first.

Thyroid eye disease

A complete pathway for thyroid eye disease, from medical management of active inflammation to orbital decompression, squint surgery and eyelid surgery in the rehabilitation phase.

Make an enquiry.

Private consultations are arranged through Gina Stacey, my secretary. NHS appointments are by GP referral via Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

Private secretary

Gina Stacey

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NHS

NHS appointments at Queen Alexandra Hospital are arranged via your GP or optometrist through Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

In an emergency

For urgent eye problems please call NHS 111, attend the on-call eye casualty service, or call 999 if it is life-threatening.