While it may seem unexpected, some patients express interest in novelty prosthetic eyes featuring designs like smiley faces, national flags, or symbolic imagery.
It’s understood that humor, including dark humor, can be a coping mechanism in the face of significant life changes, such as eye loss. While novelty ‘fun’ eyes may provide a temporary sense of control or levity, their long-term psychological benefits are often limited. As patients adapt to wearing a prosthesis, the desire for novelty designs typically diminishes.
Recognizing patient autonomy, we strive to accommodate individual preferences. To offer flexibility and maintain a professional aesthetic for daily wear, we often recommend theatrical contact lenses that can be applied over the prosthesis, allowing for temporary novelty without altering the permanent prosthetic design.
“Beware, when the novelty wears off you may want to look normal again. Always have a normal eye to fall back on.”
In certain professional contexts, a novelty prosthetic eye may serve a specific purpose. For example, a musician in a heavy metal rock band may find such a prosthesis enhances their stage persona and resonates with their audience.