Open-eye impression technique for orbital prostheses.

S culpting an orbital prosthesis which replaces the eyeball and contiguous soft tissues is a complicated and time-consuming procedure (Fig. 1) .le3 Traditional techniques have required the patient’s presence for repeated and prolonged sessions that are tiresome and costly. An alternative procedure is proposed which shortens the time spent in the office and laboratory and reduces the cost involved. The procedure is based on modifications of the open-eye impression technique first proposed by Brown.4 The iadvantage of this technique is that it provides a model of the nonaffected eye and ,adnexa for the reconstruction of the affected side. Thus, the folds and wrinkles of the eye are captured in their natural position, allowing a more realistic duplication. Guidelines for the orientation of the artificial eye in three planes of space are provided by comparison with the cast of the nona.ffected eye (Fig. 2). The availability of impression materials specifically designed for ophthalmologic use and safe topical anesthetics makes the open-eye impression technique a safe and convenient procedure.