(Eqtsad)- Abdulrahman Darwish, a Syrian displaced continues to work in his first profession as a "dental prosthetics technician" in which he worked in the harsh conditions of the siege on the region, in addition to working in the field of manufacturing and installing artificial "glass" eyes.
About his new career, Darwish, 40, who fled the eastern suburbs of Damascus countryside to the border city of Afrin said he was pushing toward the creation of glass eyes because of the increasing number of people who lost their eyes from children, women and men in Eastern Ghouta district. In addition to the negative impact this has on their daily lives, especially children and girls, and the absence of any center specialized in cosmetic eye-making.
He added: "In front of this reality, I felt that I could go into this field. I started searching the Internet about ways of making cosmetic (3D) eyes, also known as vitreous eyes, and about the materials and tools needed for that, and I found that this industry is very close to my original profession.”
Furthermore, he explained that the first steps he started in his new career was to watch dozens of videos and experiments on YouTube, after which he moved to apply what he saw in his dental laboratory. He was able to use almost the same materials themselves to make glass eyes.
Darwish has used a number of patients who have lost their eyes; to start his first experiments with the glass eye industry. With simple capabilities, he succeeded in creating an artificial eye for the injured. He was able to take the imprint of the eye, then manufacture it to a degree that is closer to the natural eye, so that it takes its position in the cavity of the lost or deformed eye.
In March 2018, "Abdulrahman" got out of "Eastern Ghouta" as part of the displacement buses, to settle in the city of "Afrin"; Where he pursued his work in "dental prosthetics" and devoted a section to the cosmetic eye industry. He developed his skills online with a Turkish company specialized in the same field, so that he could later, through the same company, buy industrial materials of much better quality than those used in "Al-Ghouta", which reflected positively on the results.
The glass-eye industry is not very different from the dental prosthesis industry. In both fields the same tools are used, but in different ways, and the same materials, but with different structures and colors.
According to Abdulrahman, this work by non-specialists is difficult, as this needs a wide knowledge in the work steps and the materials physics, mixing and correction.
Concerning the difficulties, Abdulrahman pointed out that he is currently facing several difficulties, namely, the control by Turkish companies of prices of raw materials and their inability to import quality varieties from Europe and to reach the Syrian north. In addition to the lack of organizations or agencies that care for the needs of those who are in need for glass eyes, despite their large numbers in the region.
On the prices, Abddulrahman indicated that the price of the eye that he manufactures amounts to $ 200 (102599 Syrian pound), while the international price exceeds $ 1,000 per eye (512996 Syrian pound).
He noted that the artificial eye is not permanent and has a limited life. It must be changed every three to four years, and the eye must be refined every six months to avoid infections and problems that may affect it.
He added: “The majority of those who suffer from eye problems are unable to secure the price of treatment due to the conditions of displacement and the lack of income sources, as only about 20% of the injured are able to secure the price of the treatment, while the rest are unable to do so.”
In turn, Mahmoud Abu Al-Khair, a psychiatric support specialist in Aleppo countryside, believes that cosmetic eyes are considered one of the means of psychological support and the means of treating the effects of war, especially in Syria.
He concluded by saying: "Cosmetic eyes help their owners to accept themselves quickly and do not make them feel embarrassed or frustrated in their dealings with their friends, whether at school or with the outside community."
What motivates and delights Abdul Rahman to pursue his work successfully is seeing the enthusiasm of the patients and their eagerness to see their new faces. Seeing the smile again on the patient's face forgot all the effort he made during the manufacturing period.
EQTSAD
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