Pediatrics

Newborns with congenital eye loss are seen with their first weeks of life and fitted with custom conformers to ensure the baby's face grows proportionally, minimizing malar hypoplasia (malformation of the cheek and face). Infants are fit with increasingly sized conformers as they grow for this process of facial asymmetry protection to be successful into adulthood. Often medical grade custom silicon conformers are designed at this early newborn and infant stage and then eventually evolve into standard PMMA implants (removable).

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In cases of traumatic eye loss, evaluation begins approximately 4-6 weeks following enucleation. Impressions of the eye socket are typically done under anesthesia at Children's Hospital or the hospital of choice by the referring ophthalmologist. This visit also provides the added benefit of sonogram evaluation by the baby's ophthalmologist under anesthesia.

It is common to expect three to four visits (including the EUA at Hospital) for the completion of the prosthesis. In cases of custom conformers, it is generally only two visits. 

Follow-up appointments are necessary due to the child's rate of growth as well as the color changes within their eyes. These are decided on per patient and generally decrease in frequency.

With consistent check-ups to RealLifeFaces it mitigates the need for a complete prosthetic rebuild, as the current prosthesis can be "built up," in incremental values. 

Creating Eye prosthetics for children demands and deserve the utmost care and attention. RealLifeFaces partners directly with referring ophthalmologists and other medical providers, ensuring open communication relating to the child's long-term care and well-being.