About Eyes Alive - Beryl Carvalho - Eyes Alive

Who is Beryl Carvalho Eyes Alive

I am Beryl Carvalho Eyes Alive and the vision of my business was initially to assist those who needed an artificial eye, or ocular prosthesis as we call them, in an ethical and friendly manner. It was to produce a high quality standard and not compromise on the job for the sake of the patients’ eye health and comfort. This vision has not changed over the many years I’ve been in practice.

I believe that this business has been entrusted to me as its guardian and that the patients that are seen here are given the extra detail and special care needed in producing and fitting an ocular prosthesis of the highest grade acrylic with the finest moulding and curing methods strictly adhered to. I believe that working with artificial eyes is a gift and that I have been given this gift in order to assist patients.

We specialise in custom designed, hand crafted eye prostheses individually designed for each patient. These take much longer to produce and cost quite a lot more than a stock eye taken from a box but are really the ‘top-of-the-range’ prosthetic eyes around. We work with patients who have lost an eye through injury, disease and the like as well as patients who have a blinded, shrunken eye where we fit a scleral shell eye prosthesis. This is an artificial eye that is like a giant contact lens that fits over the white of the eye and not just the cornea. We do fit stock eyes when needed and carry a range of stock eye prostheses for the patients who cannot afford a custom designed eye prosthesis.

I come from a background in eyes and even before I began making prosthetic eyes I was fascinated with the profession. I was not fortunate enough to be afforded a tertiary education and had always wanted to be a surgeon. When I started working, my first job was as a receptionist to a prominent Optometry practice in Johannesburg, where they ran their own contact lens laboratory and I was involved in training of patients on insertion and removal techniques for contact lenses, as well as working with them in the laboratory. I’ve also worked as an optical dispenser, fitting and adjusting spectacles. My second job was a little more of the same but more in-depth work directly with the patients. I also worked as a rep, selling contact lenses to Optometrists, which was fun for a while but really didn’t suit my personality in the long run as I became bored.

It was at my first job that I became interested in prosthetic eyes and the manufacture and fitting of them but the field is so small that I did not hope to get into it as an existing Ocularist would need to train me.

It was while I was overseas during a stretch of missionary work that I got the call to make prosthetic eyes and an old friend trained me in the art and I began working as an Ocularist in 1990 and have not regretted the decision since. I started Eyes Alive in 1994 and met my current husband shortly thereafter. In 1995 I trained Pedro to work as an Ocularist and while he is now a fully qualified Ocularist in his own right, we work better together when we each have defined roles. Pedro now manages Eyes Alive and I manufacture and fit all the patients’ eye prostheses. So, while we are 2 Ocularists in the practice, you will receive detailed, individual attention from myself when coming to have an eye prosthesis made at Eyes Alive.

I come from a background in eyes and even before I began making prosthetic eyes I was fascinated in the profession. I was not fortunate enough to be afforded a tertiary education and had always wanted to be a surgeon. When I started working, my first job was as a receptionist to a prominent Optometry practice in Johannesburg, where they ran their own contact lens laboratory and I was involved in training of patients on insertion and removal techniques for contact lenses, as well as working in the laboratory.

To assist those who needed an artificial eye, or ocular prosthesis as we call them, in an ethical and friendly manner.

I believe that this business has been entrusted to me as its guardian and that the patients that are seen here are given the extra detail and special care needed in producing and fitting an ocular prosthesis of the highest grade acrylic with the finest molding and curing methods strictly adhered to. I believe that working with artificial eyes is a gift and that I have been given this gift in order to assist patients.

What We Are Good At

Medical Aid Authorities 85%

Custom designed Ocular Prosthetics 98%

Polishing, Cutting Down and Building up 95%

Stock Prosthetic Eyes 85%

Core Values

Integrity

We believe in being honest and open with our patients.


Passion

We are strongly committed to the best treatment of our patients in all aspects.


Balance

We balance professionalism with care for our patients.


Strategy

We manage an individual plan suited to everyone's different needs.


Results

Nothing brings us more joy than delivering the best results for each patient.


Safety

Nothing of is greater concern to us than the safety of everyone here at Eyes Alive.


Meet The Team

BERYL CARVALHO

Owner, Chief Ocularist

PEDRO CARVALHO

Patient Administrator

Melinda Chetter

Bookkeeping Clerk

What People Say

Thanks for everything.Love the eye, thanks for all the effort.Satisfied. Take care.

People from Kriel
Patient

Thank you for changing my life. May God bless you always in your life and work.

Katie

Dear Beryl.Thank you, very much to what you had done to my wife, may god bless you and your family. Kind regards

Isaac
Pateint

Beryl ons wil net vir jou BAIE DANKIE sê dat jy vir Hennie 'n nuwe oog gemaak het. Nou kan hy weer sy ou self wees en almal in die oë kyk sonder om sy een oog toe te knyp. Mag die Here jou seën met die Wonderlike talent wat Hy vir jou gegee het. Pedro dankie ook vir jou motifering en hulp met die aansoek by Discovery. Mag julle 2 ryklik geseën word in julle werk. Baie Liefde

Patient of EyesAlive
Patient

Okay mam my wish is for it not to have any change in size and shape.. I like it like this.... Wish it stays permanently like this... I feel so brand new again after such a long time... I'll be giving a break to the sunglasses now.. Thanks alot for the wonderful job done by you mam you are indeed a star.. Have a wonderful day ahead.

Patient of EyesAlive
Patient

Dear Beryl and Pedro Carvalho, I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for the extraordinary gift you have given me. Your generosity in providing me with a prosthetic eye has been a transformative experience, altering the course of my life in the most positive way imaginable. Before 2013 I never knew how my future would turn out, I was socially excluded, and had a dreadful fear of the future. Because of your kind-hearted gesture, I have been able to blend seamlessly into society, no longer feeling the weight of difference, but rather, the warmth of acceptance. Your contribution has opened doors that I once thought were closed to me, allowing me to pursue my dreams with confidence and vigor. It has granted me a bright future, one where I can look forward to each new day with hope and enthusiasm. The impact of your gift extends beyond the physical; it has been a catalyst for change, fostering a sense of normalcy and belonging that I had longed for. Moreover, your support has empowered me to take on the noble profession of teaching. In this role, I am able to impart knowledge, inspire young minds, and advocate for inclusivity and understanding. I stand before my students not only as an educator but also as a testament to the profound kindness of individuals like you, who choose to make a difference in the lives of others. Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your wonderful and generous heart. You have not only changed my life but also enriched it in ways that words can scarcely capture. Your act of kindness will forever be etched in my memory, serving as a constant reminder of the beauty of human compassion. Thank you Beryl, thank you Pedro, thanks to your staff and thank you to the Lions'. With sincere appreciation.

Thulani Mathebula
Patient
Contact Us
Operating Hours

Monday - Friday: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
1 Saturday a month: By appointment only
Sunday: Closed

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