Silicone prosthesis: A viable treatment option for rehabilitation of residual ocular defects

Abstract

Rehabilitation of a residual ocular defect is a challenge for prosthodontists as it needs utilization of favorable anatomical factors and modification of unfavorable conditions so as to meet the triad of form, esthetics, and comfort. During the World War II, the United States Naval Dental and Medical School introduced the use of methyl methacrylate for the fabrication of ocular prosthesis. Since then, it has been widely used in the form of stock eye shell and modified stock shell and for custom-made ocular prosthesis. Medical-grade room-temperature vulcanizing silicone and its various advancements over the years have revolutionized the science of maxillofacial rehabilitation. The use of this material for ocular prosthesis has been underexplored. It exhibits numerous advantages over the age-old poly methyl methacrylate such as absence of monomer, flexibility, and improved esthetics in terms of intrinsic coloration, making it more biocompatible and comfortable for the patient. This case report aims to highlight the fabrication of custom-made ocular prosthesis using medical-grade silicone with emphasis on the use of multi-specialty approach for the selection of the iris and the use of photographic grid for iris placement. Medical-grade silicone has been used successfully for the fabrication of eye prosthesis in animals achieving desirable biological, mechanical, and esthetic goals of the rehabilitation process.