How To Have a Natural Look With Prosthetic Eyes

A new eye and a new you! 

If you’ve recently received a new prosthetic eye or are thinking about getting one, you know the feeling of excitement while imagining the possibilities. Finally, you’ll gain more confidence and feel more like yourself.

But, you also want to temper your expectations.

Although most realistic prosthetic eyes are a close match, they may not move or look as you’d exactly like — and that’s all part of the process of gradually making them your own! If you’ve wondered how to make your face look more natural with prosthetic eyes, it is possible. The right strategies can make all the difference.

Below, explore key tips to help you achieve a look that blends naturally with your face.

Avoid dusty eyeshadows and use light, cream-based eyeshadows instead.

When you have a new prosthetic eye, it’s best to avoid dusty eyeshadows since small particles can get in your eye and cause irritation. Since artificial eyes may not have enough lubrication to remove dust and other irritants, try a cream-based eyeshadow.

You can also apply an eyeshadow primer to help your cream eyeshadow last longer and prevent creases. If you prefer a powdered palette, stick to high-quality palettes that are more compact and feature less dust and shimmer.

Invest in your eyelashes.

When you’ve experienced eye trauma or surgery, this can cause issues with eyelashes, such as entropion or slow growth. You can even out your eyelashes and give them a more natural look by investing in:

• Eyelash serums. This liquid formula is applied to your lash line, and it’s used to induce growth and give your eyelash a fuller look.
• Eyelash lifts. When you have an entropion, this can cause your eyelash area to turn inward. This not only prevents you from having an even, natural look, but it can also cause physical discomfort. You may want to consider having a lash lift procedure (it’s non-invasive and only takes about an hour).
• Volumizing mascara. If your eyelashes are intact and you want a fuller look, a volumizing mascara works best with your prosthetic eyes. Usually, you can look for labels that mention “lengthening,” “volumizing,” and other similar features.

Eye movement strategies can help.

The movement of your prosthetic eye will depend on the type of surgery or trauma you’ve experienced. Remember that you’ll likely have a better range of movement if your eye sclera is intact.

Regardless, there are some eye movement reminders you can do to keep your prosthetic eyes looking natural! You can:

Use subtle eye movements. 

If possible, you can be mindful of exaggerated expressions such as rolling your eyes, looking up, down, or sideways. This can keep the movements even between your working and prosthetic eyes.

Head turns. 

If you have limited movement for your artificial eyes, you can compensate by turning your head slightly toward where you’re looking to prevent drastic eye movements.

Mirror practice. 

Take time to examine your eye movements in the mirror to see which expressions will look more natural when interacting with others.

Discover a new you with Carolina Eye Prosthetics.

Are you interested in exploring more about custom artificial eyes, corneal scleral shells, and other prosthetic eye services? Feel free to contact us by scheduling an appointment or a video consultation below.