What Does It Look Like When You Lose an Eye? Your Questions, Answered

Following an accident or a health condition, your doctor may have given you the “go” signal to undergo eye removal surgery. Many questions can come to your mind.

What will be the outcome of this? 

What will I look like after?

You’re not alone in this journey. Many people like you have learned to navigate the challenges following an eye removal surgery — while still coming out confident and thriving. At Carolina Eye Prosthetics, we want to give answers to some of your questions and things you can do after an eye loss.

Eye socket

Within your eye socket, you can expect to see red-colored tissue that gradually turns pink as it continues to heal. It’s important to keep this area clean while following post-surgery instructions.

Typically after eye removal surgery, your doctor or nurse will provide you with a temporary plastic conformer to place in your eye socket. The conformer helps the socket maintain its fornices.

Once you’ve recovered from surgery, you’ll have the option to see an ocularist for prosthetic eyes. If you’d like to know how to choose the right prosthetic eye provider, below is a resource we’ve prepared just for you:

Eyelids

You can also expect some changes in your eyelid after surgery. During the first few days, your eyelid can look red, swollen, or bruised. It’s important to note that these changes are common. It takes about 6-8 weeks to heal following surgery, and it’s good to schedule an evaluation appointment soon after the procedure so that you don’t have to go longer than necessary without a prosthesis. Your eyelid may have a closed appearance.

But, don’t worry! If you follow post-surgery recommendations, your custom prosthesis will fill your socket, thus giving your eyelids the support they require.

Other Changes To Watch Out For

Bruising, swelling, and redness are common in the first few weeks of eye removal surgery. However, if you’re experiencing:

• Pus coming out of your eye socket
• Eye pain that’s becoming worse after surgery
• Continuous tearing or discharge that won’t subside

It’s recommended to reach out to your provider to check for potential infections.

Recovering From Eye Loss and Gaining Confidence

At Carolina Eye Prosthetics, we want you to feel confident in adjusting to the changes that happen from losing an eye. If you have any questions about getting custom artificial eyes or want to get in touch with an ocularist, don’t hesitate to contact us at the links below.