A person may use a glass eye when she has suffered irreversible trauma to her eye, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute reports. The person may not have the eye anymore because of surgical removal or it may have shrunk due to some form of trauma. In diabetic retinopathy, the eye also shrinks because of the disease. Blood vessels change and little nourishment goes to the eye to keep it at its normal shape and size. The eye eventually becomes enucleated by surgery and a new prosthetic eye takes its place, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute reports.
Allergy to Material
Sometimes people develop an allergy to the actual materials that make up the artificial eye. This results in eye socket pain and swelling, the American Foundation for the Blind reports. The doctor will need to recommend a replacement for the artificial eye made of different materials.
Internal Socket Support
Children sometimes pull the internal socket support from the eye socket, the American Foundation for the Blind reports. This may occur because of irritation, and the child may notice that the artificial eye feels different in the socket. If the artificial support piece falls out, the parent may wash it with soap and water before returning it to the eye.
Blepharitis
Swelling of the eyelid may occur with an artificial eye, the American Foundation for the Blind states. Irritation occurs commonly and often when people wear artificial eyes. If blepharitis occurs, the artificial eye needs to be removed and the physician will need to prescribe antibiotic eye drops to stop the infection. The sooner the blepharitis clears, the sooner the person can return the eye to the socket.
Eye Socket Infections
Infections occur from time to time in the eye socket. They may happen due to the person rubbing the eye in response to irritation that occurs in the eye. In addition, the artificial eye corrodes after a while, especially if worn continually. It may chip and become slightly jagged, but the person may not notice this for some time, the National Institute of Health indicates. Antibiotic treatment is needed as well as removal of the artificial eye until the infection clears.
Eye Tearing
Sometimes eye tearing occurs because the eye socket remains easily irritated and reacts each time the artificial eye goes in or comes out. This occurs similar to an allergy. Finding a material that does not irritate the eye as much will help, the American Foundation for the Blind reports.
