Posted 12:26 am Sunday, August 28, 2011
Woman Transformed By Prosthetic Eyes Process
Editor's Note: Kay Lee Foster allowed the Tyler Morning Telegraph to follow her over a period of several weeks as she underwent procedures to fit her with prosthetic eyes.
By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
A budding smile teased the corners of her mouth as she wrung her delicate hands, giggled and nervously shifted in her chair.
The day that 28-year-old Kay Lee Foster anticipated and yet agonized over for weeks had finally come, and the woman's emotions ranged from excitement to apprehension.
"Will it hurt?" she asked board certified ocularist Terry Trawnik as he approached her with one of her new prosthetic eyes.
"No it won't hurt at all. It might feel a little weird at first, but that's what we want," Trawnik said with a reassuring voice as he took the right eyelid and placed the prosthesis.
Minutes later, Trawnik repeated the procedure on the left eye and told Ms. Foster to blink and then open her eyes wide.
The process began weeks earlier when Trawnik took eye measurements.
Trawnik learned of the case through East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind's Cathy Hooper, who learned that Medicaid had declined to replace her eyes with artificial ones, said Melissa Lanier, East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind spokeswoman.
Ms. Lanier said the Lighthouse's Adaptive Equipment Grant Review Committee met and agreed to pay the $2,700 for Trawnik to make the eyes at cost.
BORN BLIND
Ms. Foster was born blind and with a developmental disorder after being given too much oxygen when she was premature. She lives in a group home in Whitehouse and does piece work at the Andrews Center when it is available.
Ms. Foster said that in March, she experienced severe pain in her eyes, and doctors chose to remove them due to repeated infections.
Trawnik explained the need was not only cosmetic but was very much a need for self-esteem and to make sure the eye sockets would not suffer permanent damage.
"This (was) a medical necessity as the implants placed by the doctors only take up two-thirds of the space, and in the coming years the eye socket would continue to atrophy, causing further problems," he said.
"I'm a normal person, but I'm blind," Ms. Foster said. With a sigh she added, "I (had) been staying at home because I didn't want people staring at me. I hope this will help my self-confidence."
Trawnik labored over the prosthesis for weeks, beginning with socket impressions followed by a wax model based on those impressions.
Once the wax model was complete he then made a two-piece mold and began the fabrication of the acrylic prosthesis.
"People call them glass eyes, but they are actually made out of acrylic, and then I buff them smooth, and they look like glass," he said.
Trawnik, the only ocularist in East Texas, said he paints the eyes and places fine pieces of red thread to make the blood vessels.
"A major part of what I do is to help with the psychological aspect of someone losing an eye, so I want this to look as natural as possible," he said. "When I'm done, most people will never be able to tell she is wearing prosthesis."
Trawnik and his brother are two of just a handful of people specializing in creating eye prosthesis, and his brother actually wears one after losing an eye early in life.
"There are quite a few people in East Texas who wear prosthesis, but unless they tell you, then you may never know," he said recently as he painstakingly painted detail into Ms. Foster's prosthesis.
THE BIG DAY
As she waited for Trawnik to place her eyes, Ms. Foster made small talk, but the apprehension was etched on her face.
Kay said she spent the weeks between visits listening to her beloved Texas Rangers sweep team after team.
"I love the Rangers, and I listen to every game," she said. "I hope one day I will get to meet Michael Young, because he is my favorite player."
Trawnik then approached Ms. Foster and told her it was time to see just how the prosthesis would fit.
"I'm really nervous, but excited, too," she said.
Moments later, as Trawnik backed away from her and she opened her eyes wide, the room was full of gasps.
"Kay your eyes are so beautiful and they make you look so pretty," said Kay's caseworker Danita Edwards.
"I'm so happy," Ms. Foster said. "I just can't believe this is happening."
She laughed and soaked up the compliments about the ocean-colored blue eyes that Trawnik labored over for weeks.
"I wish my brothers and sister could be here," she added.
Those who know Ms. Foster said her demeanor changed after her eyes were removed. She became withdrawn and worried her appearance would make others uncomfortable.
But as the compliments about her new eyes continued, Ms. Foster sat taller and smiled bigger.
Ms. Edwards said, "She went from someone who walked with her head down to someone who looks at you. There's a big difference in her confidence level and I think that is amazing."
Ms. Edwards said that despite Ms. Foster's hardships, she truly brightens those around her with her sense of humor and genuine caring spirit.
"I'm so excited for her," she said.
Ms. Foster joked, "I'll probably get me a man now."
The rest of the room burst out in laughter and several women hugged her tight.
Ms. Foster said she hopes to work for the Lighthouse for the Blind so she can help others, and she dreams of one day meeting a special man and starting a family.
When someone suggested Michael Young, she roared with laughter and said, "That would be great."
