Category: Health and Wellness
I live in Illinois and looking for a new place to go for my prostetic eye. I usually go to Iowa City but would like advice from someone who has an Occularist in Chicago or in the surrounding states. Thanks a bunch.
I go to the University of Michigan, they have been servicing my eyes for over 20 years now and I still have the same set.
Wow. In the last 20 years I've had at least 4. As I get older, I can tell when I need a new one. My eyelid droups and it tears up a lot. Also, when I move it from left to right there are gaps. Your guy must ge good. I am not saying mine is not but I just don't like the way they do billing.
Odd, I've had mine since 1999 and never any problems.
Not sure how far you're willing to travel, but my occularist is in Tenessee. He only takes blue cross though.
Where do you go in TN? And to those of you who have your eyes that long. Do you not get any discoloring? After awhile they seem to get a bit on the yellow side.
I live in Illinois near the city of Chicago. Have an ocularist by the name of Beverly Wolthman; had a man named Dean Scott before her. Have had prosthetics for about 20 years and am on my third pair. PM me if you have any other questions.
I get mine replaced every five years, because of build up of bacteria. I'm not in your state, so that's all I havve to say. God Bless,
Sarah
I go to an amazing couple who are both ocularists Their names are Cathy and J.R. Hetzler. They are based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. I do not receive full prosthetics from them, but know people who do and know from that that they do excellent work. I only get partials from them, but am also super impressed with the quality of their work.
Their practice is called Hetzler Ocular Prosthetics, Inc.
The contact phone number is: (317) 598-6298
Also,
I have had two sets of my partials. I am getting my third set next week. All of my sets have come from the same group. I replace mine every few years due to bacteria, and due to the fact that I am only 18, and due to growth they have not fit as they should anymore.
Also,
The ones, partial and whole, made by the group I go to look very real. Many people who have them, including myself, have gotten remarks from others who say they have no idea we have prosthetics at all.
I got my first pair of prosthetic eyes in Texas in 2014, so I won't be of any help to you on that front. However I've been told by the occularist as well as by the eye doctor I see annually, that people should only have prosthetic eyes for five to 10 years thereabouts.
Sara, can I ask who made yours? I know you're in Washington state, as I am.
I have one, a scleral shell, and I've had it for 15 years now. No one's told me it looks discolored or unnatural, but I know it needs replacing, or at least cleaning. I have never done that myself. I don't think I have any coverage to pay for a new one, which is why I haven't done anything about replacing it, yet. Anyway, I got it from a place in Seattle... Ericson Labs, and I remember that they were very good, nice to work with, so I'd go there again.
thanks for all the info. If you have Medicare they will cover your service. The only time mine got discolored is when I was on certain medications. I no longer take them, so the discoloration has stopped. I also have the shell in my other eye and it has become uncomfortable. It also has started to turn around because of so much tearing. Everyone says it still looks good but I feel like it is time to replace it.
My occularist office is called Thomas Occular. He molds his, and paint it a certain way where it's not doing any of that stuff you all are talking about. A lot of people thinks that my eyes are real.
Snowflower, I can't help you out with ocularists in your area. I hope you don't mind my asking, but who do you go to in Iowa City? That's where my ocularist is, too. His name is Dan Yeager. He is getting close to retirement age, but his daughter Hillary is preparing to take over the practice. If you'd rather not answer publicly, feel free to PM me.
I've been with the Sankey family, (Custom Ocular Prosthetics) since I was a baby. Greg Sankey, and his 2 adult kids run it now. 206-522-4222.
I always get compliments on my eyes, and my response is: "Thank you. I'll tell the guy who made them."
Greg's dad, Orval made my first few sets. Now, he's retired. Makes me feel old. They also have an office in Greece. Sorry, if I spelled the name of the country wrong. Anyway, that's how good they are.
Ericson died, and his wife and one of his kids have offices, but I don't have the number. Sorry.
God Bless,
Sarah
I have to say the people in Iowa city are awesome. I have a right eye socket with radiation damage and had several very bad experiences with others. I'm sorry you don't like their billing. I've honestly never found anyone as good as them. They even helped save me from a nearly fatal eye infection!