Meet Karl, from A Blind Life!
Karl shares real-life moments of living with blindness and progressive vision loss, staying positive through challenges, traveling the world, and proving that low vision cannot dim adventure, joy, or independence.
As a patient of Maloney’s Ocular Prosthetics, Karl has also documented his experience with having an ocular prosthesis made and has generously offered to share his experience with you!
How they made my prosthetic eye
Step into the clinic with me as I get my first custom acrylic prosthetic eye made at Maloney’s Ocular Prosthetics in Lake Oswego, Oregon—just six weeks after my eye removal surgery. In this video, you’ll follow Maureen and her incredible team through each step of the front-facing process, from that squishy dental-impression-style mold to lost-wax casting, to hand-painting the iris to match my natural eye and adding those amazingly realistic blood vessels. This is a behind-the-scenes look at the art, science, and emotion of ocular prosthetics from the perspective of someone living A Blind Life.
Whether you’re facing eye removal surgery, living with vision loss, or just curious about how prosthetic eyes are made, this in-depth, day-and-a-half journey shows how a skilled ocularist like Maureen can restore confidence, symmetry, and a sense of self. Join me as I share my story, my anticipation, my gratitude—and the moment I see my new eye for the very first time.
Time to Polish My Eye
Once a month, it’s time for a little deep clean of my prosthetic eye—and yes, you can watch the whole process. I carefully remove my eye, give it a gentle polish so it’s smooth and comfortable again, and then place it back in, ready for another month of everyday life.
If you’re curious about what living with a prosthetic eye really looks like, this is your behind-the-scenes moment. No filters, no drama—just real, practical self-care and a reminder that our bodies and stories can be different and still absolutely valid.
Want to learn more from Karl and see what he’s up to?
