r/monocular • u/Ok-Bluejay-831 • 11d ago

Scleral shell

Hi guys is anyone here who have scleral shell over their existing affected one eye?

How does it feel like is it comfortable enough to not bother you and do u have to remove is before sleeping? Does it move with existing eye and does it interfere with eyelid movement? Few questions because I have unilateral microphthalmia in my right eye and I am thinking of getting a scleral shell

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u/KaleidoscopeLife7745 11d ago

Hi! Have been wearing a scleral shell over my blind eye for 10 years now with little issue. I keep the pressure up in my bad eye with steroid drops (sometimes creams).

I don’t think about my shell like 85% of the time. If you get a good ocularist and get it changed as your notice any fit changes, it is comfortable enough to go about your day and not stress over it.

The main reminders (the 15%) would be when it does get dry or messy (I wear eye makeup) or when discharge accumulates after a few hours. Easy fix here, I always carry around lubricating drops/artificial tears and q-tips.

I know a lot of people do like to keep it in overnight, I find it more comfortable to take it out when I sleep and clean my shell daily. I think it’s personal preference.

And as for movement, I would say at first, it was almost undetectable. My ocularist did a truly remarkable job and most people had no idea I had a fake eye, especially since I got it reshined frequently. As my blind eye has changed over 10 years, so has the socket and fit of my shells. It’s not amazing in terms of movement, but it still looks decent.

Overall, I can’t imagine my life without my shell, it was truly a lifesaver for me!

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u/Ok-Bluejay-831 11d ago

Hello! Thank you so much for taking your time and writing this for me it helps a lot I thought to get some info from people who already have a shell on their eye as it's very new thing for me and I am thinking about it a lot I am 20 yo and since birth I never got a shell, my parents did took me to a doctor but idk my parents didn't thought about a shell, living with one visible eye defect straight on face sucks i have been made fun of etc even people from I thought who never would do it, it really affect self esteem its just there to scare of people I don't know what I did to get such defect

I don't blame anynore for finding it weird I myself hate it so much I would do anything to hide my eye I was even thinking about getting it removed completely (enucleation) but it's connected with all nerves etc

I know a very good and USA based, experienced ocularist, I have few doubts, like the discharge etc accumulate very often or is it a occasional thing? And do you have to carry those creams or eyedrops everyday with you or is it like a one time thing at morning I hope u understand what I am asking About movement I am fine if it doesn't move exactly like my normal eye atleast the shell can hide the undeveloped eyeball which doesn't really look great, if I have made grammar mistake don't mind it please because english is not my first language.

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u/V10B 11d ago

I’ve been wearing one for over 10 years now and my main regret is not getting it earlier in my life.

It gave me so much confidence back and most people would never know that I’m wearing a shell.

Movement is fine generally, very slightly limited on the extreme left and right but more than adequate for day to day and you learn to avoid this.

Sometimes it does get dry and irritated but not too often, I use a lubricating drop and if you are doing this then just keep a tissue nearby as it can come out like eye discharge on the lashes as it won’t absorb.

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u/Ok-Bluejay-831 11d ago

Thanks bro and about extreme movement I have no problem with it as since birth I have monocular vision my brain just adapt and my neck just turn to side if I have to look to my right side I think I should get a scelar shell too

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u/EmbarrassedTruth1337 9d ago

I've got microphthalmia and have worn a shell for as long as I can remember. I barely even notice it's there unless there's an eyelash or something stuck to it and then that's the only time it really comes out. It moves a little bit but not a lot. People generally assume I have a lazy eye. Not sure what exactly you mean about eyelid movement but my eye looks like a regular eye to everyone who's not familiar with prosthetics.

It does get the proteins polished off once a year and replaced about every five.

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u/Ok-Bluejay-831 9d ago

Can u remove it yourself and clean it yourself? And about eyelid movement I meant as when u blink etc does eyelid does it natural movement or the shell stop it from closing

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u/EmbarrassedTruth1337 9d ago

Eyelid moves normally. The cleaning should be done by someone who's trained (speaking for an acrylic eye, not sure how glass ones work). They use a combination of jewelry and dentistry tools to buff off the proteins that build up on the eye. Post cleaning feels amazing. If you don't know what you're doing you can actually melt the eye and create a ridge that is hugely uncomfortable and becomes painful. I've had this happen. I live in a really rural area and the guy (who was trained but was new) who cleaned it melted it. I had to fly into a larger centre to get it resurfaced.

Things like sand and eyelashes are DIY- just gently soap and water.