Specializing in Custom Made Facial and Ocular Prosthetics
Glossary
Anaplastologist: specialist in the making of facial or somatic (body/digital) prostheses
Anophthalmia: birth defect resulting in the absence of one or both eyes, see microtia
Artificial Eye: a plastic prosthesis used when an eye is surgically removed (enucleated), also known as an ocular prosthesis
Atresia: congenial birth defect or absence of one or both ear canal(s) resulting in hearing loss
Auricular: of or pertaining to the outer ear
Conformer: clear plastic or silicone shell usually inserted after surgery to help form the socket and support the eyelids
Conjunctiva: mucous membrane that lines the eye socket and covers the implant
Cornea: clear covering on the eye
Cul-de-sacs: tissue pockets within the socket cavity
Digit: of or pertaining to a finger or toe
Enucleation: surgical removal of the eyeball, leaving the remaining orbital parts intact. Extraocular muscles are detached and typically reattached to an orbital implant or fat graft. An artificial eye is fit following this eye surgery
Evisceration: surgical removal of the inner eye contents, iris and cornea; leaving the sclera behind with the extraocular muscles still attached. Typically, an orbital implant is placed inside the sclera to replace lost eye volume. A scleral shell is fit following this eye surgery
Exenteration: surgical removal of the contents of the orbit (eye socket) including the eyeball, fat muscles and other adjacent structures of the eye. The eyelids may also be removed in cases of cutaneous (skin) cancers and unrelenting infection. An orbital prosthesis is typically recommended following this surgery
Extraocular Muscles: the six muscles that control eye movement
Implant: usually a spherical device placed in the socket at time of surgery to replace orbit volume after removal of the eye or its contents; normally made of acrylic plastic, silicone, or bio-compatible material. Also called a ball or orbital implant
Iris: colored portion of the eye
Helix: the in-curve rim of the external ear
Microphthalmia: congenital disorder where one or both eyes are abnormally small, see anophthalmia
Microtia: congenial birth defect or absence of one or both outer ears resulting in hearing loss.
Monocular Vision: seeing with only one eye
Mucosa: mucous membranes
Nasal: of or pertaining to the nose
Nasopharynx: the nasal part of the pharynx; it is the uppermost part of the pharynx
Ocular Prosthesis: artificial eye
Ocularist: a specialist in the making of ocular (eye) prostheses
Orbital with Ocular Prosthesis- a prosthesis that artificially restores the eye, eyelids, and the adjacent hard and soft tissues, which have been lost as a result of radical surgery or traumatic event
Prosthesis: artificial substitute for a missing, disfigured, or malformed part of the face or body
Pupil: black spot in the iris, which opens into the interior of the eye
Sclera: white portion of the eye
Scleral Shell: flush fitting thin artificial eye usually fit over blind, malformed, or injured eye