LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad has another feather in its cap by introducing novel artificial eye which is movable, unbreakable and looking exactly like the real ones. Over 400 patients have already got these eyes inserted since they were introduced some six months ago.

According to a source in the hospital, the eyes have a waiting list of over 200, sell like hot cakes and have a very cosmetic value. People from Gulf countries, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka come to the city to insert the artificial eye which costs Rs 5,000. The eye is popular among the young and the old alike. A 96-year-old woman who lost an eye due to cancer and a five-month-old baby were among the recipients of the artificial eye at the Institute. They had the implants inserted successfully and painlessly.

Through a painting process, using special colour pigments, ocularists ensure that the eye looks exactly like the real one by even duplicating the small red veins in the eye. The first step is to place a device called the 'plunger' into the eye socket and send a plastic like material through the device to ascertain the cavity's dimensions based on the mould obtained.

According to the Institute's ocularist Kuldeep Raizada, once the wax impression is ready after reshaping it to fit the socket, the final plastic implant is made. The painting of the eye take only a day and the patient can leave immediately after the insertion.

The 'ocular prosthesis' eye has a lifespan of over 10 years compared to the traditional artificial eye. The patient does not have to remove the artificial eye every night before sleeping and it needs cleaning with soap and water once in a fortnight.

Spherical porous implants can also be used over which muscles and tissues connect and the artificial eyes inserted over it. But this process is more expensive. LVPEI is the only hospital in the country where the movable artificial eyes are available.