I had a scleral shell for a few years. Then over time the doctor recommended it be enoculated for various reasons. He implanted the coral implant.

I can't remember if the scleral shell moved as well as my plastic eye does. They may move as well as each other. They both look the same as far as appearance goes. The only difference is instead of having the implant you have your eye to help move the shell realistically. They are both 'half plastic eyes' and look very similiar. The movement is the thing you may want to check on but I think the shell did fine.

I tried to keep my eye as long as I could, even if it was hidden behind the plastic shell. One of the biggest reasons I didn't want my eye removed unless necessary was the nerves that were supposedly were 'scraped' away. And of course it was a part of me, however hideous my eye looked.

David-

This website is a listing of licensed ocularists - you can find one in your area - or at least hopefully somewhere close. Where do you live - lots of people here can recommend a good ocularist based on location.

http://www.ocularist.org

Good luck!

Bob

I can't remember it being that uncomfortable. Being that my real eye was extremely ugly, it helped me on many levels. See the thing is the ocularist will custom fit it for you using an impression (mold). Then they polish it down while fitting you, putting it in, etc. You will also be told to use eye drops designed for hard contact lenses. I however stop using them along time ago because I don't have a problem with the prosthetic becoming dry. It seems I remember being sore weeks after and the shell had a rough place on it and I went back and they polished it out. I don't think you will suffer quite the same way as wearing a contact. It will fit all around your eye meaning it has help in other areas to move it not just your eyeball. Honestly it was awhile back. I live in North Carolina. I used two ocularists that are from Greenville S.C. and they travel to doctor offices doing polish or followup visits but actually make the eye at their office in Greenville, or at least they did then. I honestly will have to dig up their card if your interested. But riverdogs link seems to have a very nice search feature.