Kestrell and Alexx return to the Ocularist

[alexxkay]

kestrell has new eyeballs! 10 months of angst is *done*! (Save for another few followups, but hopefully those should be trauma-free...) Photo-essay follows. Fewer disturbing images than the last one, but still worth putting behind a cut.

On the T. This is, with luck, the last picture ever in which Kes is wearing an eye-bandage. Not that I objected to the bandage -- but the continual use of the tape did unpleasant things to her skin.


In the waiting room, showing off her "Advice from a Bat" sweatshirt.
[text: Trust in your senses | Spend time just hanging around with friends | Don't be afraid of the dark | Get a grip | Enjoy the nightlife | Sometimes you've just gotta wing it | Guano happens!]


In the chair, waiting for new eyes.


The new eyes, soaking.


The ocularist displays his handiwork.


Taking out the old left eye.


Here's a closeup of that suction-cup gadget I was talking about last time.


Awaiting new eyes.
[Kes: this is the point where the ocularist dropped my eye on the floor, because the silicone drops used for lubricating the eye make it extremely slippery.]


In with the left...



...and the right.


Delerium eyes!
[descriptive text: the right eye is bright emerald green, and the left eye is bright blue.]


Hmmm... The right eyelids aren't closing all the way yet. They're kind of atrophied after all this time. Kes: "It feels like I have a cow in my eye!"


Using a Sharpie to mark where he wants to trim down the size slightly.


Popping out the right eye with the suction cup, to do a little fine-tuning.


The left will also need a bit of adjustment. Kes demonstrates where it feels wrong.


The right eye is much improved. "Now it just feels like a small calf!"


Marking the left eye for adjustments.


And popping it out.


For the left eye, the old prosthetic is handy. The ocularist has Kes compare the old and new, to help identify exactly where the problem area is.


After adjustments, re-inserting the left eye.


Feeling much better, now!


On the T again, not wearing dark glasses for the first time in ages!


After all the trauma, it's time for a *full* makeover, so off to a hair salon.


Who is that woman with the straight, non-crazy hair?


By the eyes, it must be Kestrell!
Kes: The salonist really wanted to blowdry my hair straight, even though every fiber of my being defies straight; I indulged her, but this is unlikely to ever happen again. Still, this is me with straight hair.


ETA: Closing comments on this post due to excessive spam. If you want to comment, email me.

Comments

[hugh-mannity.livejournal.com]

Yay!!! They look really cool. Love the different colours.

[londo.livejournal.com]

I was totally cool with all the eye stuff, but the straight hair is freaking me right out.

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

Wow! I've only ever met Kestrell at Arisia, to which I am no longer local, and I don't think I've ever seen her w/o dark glasses.

The different eye colors are easier to see in the full-size pic.

Love the T-shirt text.

[siderea]

Looking great Kes! I'm delighted that you managed to get what you wanted out of the ocularists. Did you have to shop ocularists to find ones adequately biddable?

[read-alicia.livejournal.com]

Back when she first moved into Melville Keep, I made a playful suggestion that she should go with Corinthian eyeballs. She replied, "Ew. I wouldn't even feel safe around me!"

(Then I read in her LJ about how she wouldn't be adverse to that... we all change with time, don't we?)

So Delirium eyes are definitely the next best thing. I'm relieved they came out well. And I love the new haircut.

[jesse_the_k]

Outstanding! Excellent photo & text journalism, Alexx. The eyes are lovely, and Kes looks bewitching and comfortable.

The hair cut... my my my, put on fancy duds and take a picture quick. If you ever need a legend in the Real World, this would be the perfect cover photo.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

Those are lovely! (the color really comes out in the large photo)

[akasylvia.livejournal.com]

Beautiful! Although I agree, I'm not convinced by the straight-hair.

oooh cool

[(Anonymous)]

Your delirium eyes are pretty!

[tarpo.livejournal.com]

I loved reading these posts. Just fantastic and they really look great as well.

[niamh-sage.livejournal.com]

Here via officialgaiman - I just wanted to say that Kestrell's Delirium eyes are amazing, what a wonderful idea! It was really interesting to see the process as well - I had no idea what went into making prosthetic eyes. Thanks for sharing :)

[dzurlady.livejournal.com]

Also here from Gaiman. I found your description of the process really interesting, and the final eyes look really cool!

[megabitch.livejournal.com]

Here from Neil Gaiman's blog and I have to say I wasn't squicked at all by any of the pictures. The eyes look fantastic and, in the opinion of one who has only seen the pics on these few posts, somehow more natural than the other prosthetics - and, dare I say it, really suit Kes. Congratulations to Kes (and yourself) on being able to talk the professionals into doing what you want rather than what they try to tell you that you must want.

[kirin]

Very nice!

Like the incipient hoard, I'm here via Neil Gaiman's links, but in a demonstration of how small the Geek World is, I know I've run into you elsewhere... probably patrissimo's journal mainly.

[neko-indi.livejournal.com]

Also here through Mr. Gaiman's LJ feed... thank you both for sharing! as others have said, the process was fascinating, and the finished job looks wonderful!

If it's not too much of me to say, I think Kestrel looks beautiful with either curly or straight hair - I can empathize with the "the hairdresser really wanted to..." bit!

amazing

[julia whitenight (from livejournal.com)]

Makes me want to paint eyeballs for a living!

[vnend.livejournal.com]

Very cool! It doesn't hurt that Delerium (well, Delight, pre-change) is probably my favorite character from Sandman. Nice to see someone going with the look.

Enjoy!

[coraline]

so amazingly cool! thank you for sharing :)

[snonsumr.livejournal.com]

Also here from officialgaiman. Very interesting all around. I sent this to my friend in Buffalo, NY, who also wears a scleral shell. Apparently, she and Kes have the same ocularist! (Yes, she travels to Boston to see him.)

[knackeredwriter.livejournal.com]

Awesome :) What an amazing process.

(linked from Gaiman's blog)

[stellar7.livejournal.com]

Another reader of Neil Gaiman's blog, I just wanted to say thanks for sharing this story :) It was a really amazing process,and I never would have thought about all the details that go in to creating new eyes. They look great!

[the-lucky-nun.livejournal.com]

here via Neil Gaiman...incredible! I love the bat advice, as well!

[imjustdifrent.livejournal.com]

Aww... I love her straight hair!! Those eyes look fantastic, and just like most of the people here, I wasn't disturbed or grossed out - I found the whole process fascinating! Congrats, Kes! :D

(from Neil's blog, too)

[m-a-r-y.livejournal.com]

I'm here from Neil's blog too - and like everyone else, I wanted to say thank you for sharing! It was really fascinating to see the whole process! And Kes, your eyes are beautiful :)

[sheherazahde.livejournal.com]

Also here from officialgaiman.

Thanks for sharing this. It is really interesting.

I have a question.

In all the pictures I have seen of eyes they are spherical. Why are prosthetic eye almost triangular? Are eyes not really spherical? or is something else going on?

[priscellie.livejournal.com]

Here via Neil's blog as well. Thank you so much for documenting this fascinating process! I'd never taken the time to imagine what it must be like, and I value the education. Kes' new eyes look fantastic--I'm thrilled you were able to find an ocularist broad-minded enough to help her express herself in this way!

[evil-macaroni.livejournal.com]

That is the coolest thing ever! Alexx, Kestrell - thanks so much for sharing.
PS: you may not remember me, but 4+ years ago I used to be a Carolingian and MITgaard member. I am very happy to have found this via Neil's blog.