Reusable metal molds for ocular parts of orbital prostheses

Abstract

C ustom-fitted methyl methacrylate resin ocular prostheses were developed at the U.S. Naval Dental School in 1944 because of a scarcity of imported stock glass ocular prostheses. ’ Since that time acrylic resin has become the standard material for use in ocular prostheses, whether custom made or manufactured. Several articles have appeared in the prosthodontic literature that describe various methods of fabrication of custom ocular prostheses.“’ Superior results for ocular prostheses are obtained with the modified impression method.8 This method virtually eliminates the presence of irritating dead spaces in the defect and is far superior to attempting to adjust and modify the shape of a manufactured ocular prosthesis to fit the defect. Ocular prostheses have not usually been custom made for incorporation into an orbital prosthesis because the marginal shape is not critical and extra time is involved in custom molding. There are several advantages to developing a simplified method for custom molding ocular portions of orbital prostheses. First, esthetics could be customized. Second, a relatively large supply of manufactured eyes would not have to be kept in stock. Third, the scleral curvature of the prosthesis could be decreased.5 Frequently when the inner and outer canthi of an orbital prosthesis are carved to the proper dimensions, the curvature of the globe is found to be too severe. The scleral surface of the ocular part becomes too deep in relation to the canthi because the curvature is too great (Fig. 1). The purpose of this article is to describe the fabrication of a reusable metal mold that simplifies the fabrication of custom ocular portions of orbital prosthe-