O.X., United Arab Emirates

Patient O.X. lost an eye to a malignant tumor when she was only two years old. Years later and after much disappointment dealing with chemotherapy and ungainly vision prosthetics, she was discouraged and wondered if she would ever be able to realize her dream of becoming a filmmaker.

Although O. was already wearing an orbital implant, her parents decided to ask one of the specialists at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai to design a more suitably matched artificial eye: in effect, a large contact lens that would rest naturally upon a prosthetic eyeball and allow the eyes to move in sync as smoothly as possible.

"O. came to the hospital for five visits," explained ocularist Paul Galeen, "and sat in front of me whilst I painted the artificial eye to correspond with her natural eye, creating a much improved match."

Thrilled with the outcome, O., who is now a high school student in Dubai, worked with her family to create a five-minute motivational film to support others dealing with similar types of eye problems. "I now believe I shall have every opportunity to work toward my film-making dream," said O.