Hitting The Water With An Artificial Eye
People often ask me how they should care for their artificial eye when swimming.
I think it’s ideal to wear goggles while doing laps or for more vigorous water activities.
However, goggles won’t help if you’re diving into water or waterskiing.
For these activities I recommend closing the eyes tightly when hitting the water and putting a hand over the eye if possible.
For activities like surfing, body surfing and skiing I also recommend that a person wears an old prosthesis as hitting the water can dislodge an eye prosthesis.
Most eye prostheses are quite secure in the socket.
Usually clients find that it’s ok to have a gentle dip without goggles.
It is only when the water forces down on the bottom lid that the prosthesis can become dislodged.
Enjoy your swim.
Thanks jenny for showing care for the people who wear artificial eyes. You have given the great tips to care about when people with artificial eyes hits the water. Thanks for you kindness. It can help many.
I’ve had a false eye since the age of eight. I am now 63 years old. I finally had a new one made a couple of years ago. I could write a book discribing things that have happened, both funny and not so funny. Folks, just be a little more careful in your daily activities, accept the fact that you will bump into things more often than most, and most importantly Don’t let it slow u down! I sure haven’t!!
I have had a prosthesis since 13 months of age, so I don’t anything different. When I was little I ask my mom if she could see two of everything because she has two eyes lol. I really haven’t been limited, but depth perception is an issue that you adjust and deal with. I am a nurse practitioner in psychiatry and I totally give having a prosthetic eye credit for my push and determination in life.
I have been blessed to help several patients when they lost an eye in adulthood. One patient just knew that she would never drive again, but with my thoughts (because I had never thought about it before) of how I position my head while driving. My right eye is prosthetic and it totally makes sense that my face is turned more toward my right side to compensate for the peripheral loss on the right. So, my left eye is mid- line. Long story short, I was blessed to be able to share with this one patient and she now drives.
I know that it has to be so very difficult to be use to having two eyes then suddenly have only one. I like to help anyone I can especially in this area. I can’t say that I understand what the change is like, but I do know that this is what I have known my whole life and I am almost 50 years old. I so welcome any questions or possibility of being able to help.