Living with a Prosthetic Eye?

Question

My husband just had surgery last Wednesday to have his right eye removed. He is a police officer and was shot while on duty and after 7 unsuccessful surgeries he had this last one to have the eye removed since the pain was unbearable. He has maintained a good attitude since the shooting happened in January but since this surgery his mood has changed, he's not as "bubbly" and outgoing. Since the shooting we have met with a police psychologist seperately and together and everything has seemed fine. Has anyone else had aloved one with an eye removed? how did they deal with it? How did you deal with it? I love him regardless if there is an eye there or not but I'm just concerned with the mood changed, he is scheduled to meet with the psychologist again in two weeks and I do plan on letting her know ahead of time about the mood change so she can talk with him but I'm just wanting to know if this is something that is normal for him to go through.

Answer 1

i am very sorry to hear this!

but umm r u going to get a new eye?

....not one that will work but it is a mold of the eye and it looks really real and it moves with the other eye!

...if not u should look into it!

but umm yea i am sure this would happen i mean i would be very mad knowing that i can only have one eye!

...is this going to effect his job at all?

Answer 2

I don't think I can give you the answer you're looking for but this is something I have experienced.

I coach soccer for 5 and 6 year olds.  At the start of the season, one of the moms came over to tell me her daughter has to wear her glasses while she plays.  "Okay," I thought.  Then she said it's because she has a prosthetic eye, and oh, if her eye falls out while she's playing, it's okay.

Needless to say, I was happy she told me that.  But, what's really great is that her daughter plays just like the rest of the kids.  I don't treat her any differently and she doesn't behave as though she's different.  She's a bundle of joy.

For your husband, if he can see that life has moved on well for others, maybe that could help him.  He'll only be disabled if he feels that way, not by what others think.

Answer 3

Losing a body part is upsetting and depressing to any intelligent, sensitive person. The most successful recovery strategies rely on psychological intervention along with medical care.  Your husband has the dual stresses of post-trauma (horrifying incident) compounded with life altering physical changes. The medical community has long recognized the importance of counseling in cases with altered body image (limb amputations, mastectomies, bariatric surgery). You may not have as many resources as a cancer patient, but it sounds like seeing the police psychologist is a good start. You may need to consider more intensive counseling from a psychiatrist if your husband is starting to show signs of depression. A psychiatrist can prescribe anti-depressant medications (even if only needed for short term) and help in the recovery period in addition to the staff psychologist. Good luck to you both.

Answer 4

I'm very sorry to hear about your husband's loss.  I think that with time, he'll be more at peace with it.  I wish you the best.