how to fix doll cloudy eyes

[ladybryant38]

The doll I just won has cloudy eyes.  Any idea how to fix them?  Any infor would be greatly appreciated.

[tiny_tailor]

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@restorations_and_beyond wrote:

I realize this thread is a few years old but am wondering, does the heat from the hairdryer put the dolls lashes at risk? Have a 15" Ideal Revlon lady that has just a bit of dimming in one eye. Want to be sure I don't melt anything if I choose to try this method.

Thanks in advance!

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Hi restorations.

Revlons!!!!  My favorite dolls to sew for, lol.  

I used to shield my Revlon's lashes with a small piece of cardboard, and hold the hairdryer a little further away.  Mine have never melted doing it this way. 

If they're not too bad, lower heat may work also.  

That kind of cloudiness is usually caused from years of washing their hair and getting water in behind the eye sockets.  So if and when you give them a spa day, place them face down to dry out for a couple of days. 

I have them in all sizes, except the 26 inch one, and only had cloudiness with the 10 1/2"  inch ones.

Hope this helps.   

[luvthesedolls]

Ideal Crissy dolls (50 years old now) also have a problem with clouding over the eye. There is a white mold that feeds on a piece of adhesive placed in the eyecup. Ihe mold starts there and then works its way to the outside of the doll's eye often covering the whole eye. One can clean and kill the mold gently wiping it away and using drops of alcohol, but this often leaves the eye looking dull and lifeless. It's as though the mold has eaten away at the doll's shiny eyes. Do you think the method discussed on this thread would help? What I am looking for is a method to rid the mold from the outside while I treat the offender with alcohol on the inside.

Thanks so much!

[tiny_tailor]

Hi luvthesedolls.

There are 2 different kinds of that "mold".  One is on the outside of the eyes, and is kind of chalky that you can carefully scrape off.  But be very very careful, as you could scratch the eyes and possibly chip them. The other is the the kind that clouds the eyes and is behind the eyes themselves, and is easily removed with the hair dryer trick.  Again, shield their lashes and their HAIR from the heat.  Start at a low setting and 8 or so inches away from the eyes.  You can always increase the heat. Some of the Crissy's have hair that could melt easy.  I did that when I was experimenting with the boil curl method.  (Good thing it wasn't my hair-to-the-floor Crissy.  Some hair frizzed and some others were fine.  Wrapping the hair in a towel should be fine to shield it.  

Those Crissy Girls and family are certainly gorgeous dolls, and I LOVE their clothes.  Fun dolls to sew for.  I have the whole family, plus spares, lol.  

Hope this helps.  Let us know how you make out.  

[tiny_tailor]

Darn edit button, lol.

I WOULDN'T use alcohol with the hair dryer.  That could be a disaster in itself.  And if I remember correctly, the alcohol didn't really do anything for the mold.  Sometimes over time, you have to keep doing the dryer trick on some dolls, it seems.  No rhyme or reason.

[net-lister]

Wow, that's a huge differenct.

Thanks! You've helped me be brave. I'm going to try the blow dryer technique on my Chatty Cathy this weekend.

[oldtoys87]

It worked great; patience was the key!

[Anonymous]

HI ,

I REALIZE YOUR RESPEONSE IS 6 YEARS AGO BUT I HAVE A VELVET AFRIACAN AMERICAN DOLL, I PURCHASED AT A FLEA MARKET. SHE WAS WET WHEN I PURCHASED HER AND COULD TELL THAT THE BUYER WAS NOT CAREFUL IN HOW SHE WAS STORED FROM FLEA MARKETS HE TRAVELED BETWEEN. I HAVE MULTIPLE TIMES USED ALCOHOL TO REMOVE THE WHITE MOLD OFF OF HER BROWN EYES, AND WHITE EYE BALL AREAS AND TURN HER OVER, USE A HAIR DRYER. I HAVE DONE THIS 7 TIMES AND IT COMES BACK. NOW HER EYES ARE LOOSE IN THE SOCKETS AND WITH A FLASH LIGHT I SEE THAT HER EYES ARE DETACHED FROM THE SOCKETS. WHAT CAN I DO TO FIX THIS? I LOVE THIS DOLL! THANK YOU.

[Anonymous]

HI, I saw your post and I used alcohol as well as a dryer to dry to eliminate the white mold on the eyes of a Velvet African American Doll. I have done 7 treatments and still back. Now the eyes are loose from the sockets. Do I have a hopeful situation her? HELP?! I love this doll!

[lsrea8]

I have my moms composition doll from the 30s maybe. also has cloudy eyes. What would you think of just repainting them???

answer at ....lsreallife@yahoo.com please.

[helflet47]

If you get a reply isrea 8 please let me know 

I need to do same !

cloudy eyes on 30s compo Shirley temple 

helenafletcher@aol.com

Thanks 😊 

[tiny_tailor]

Hi helflet47.

Most compo Shirley's have glass eyes that shatter or crackle.  Hard to find one that hasn't done that.

I've read here many moons ago about people painting them, or doing a transplant, lol.  A couple of sellers used to do repairs on ebay.  Maybe they are still around?

You can always try to find a parts doll that has decent eyes and replace them.  

My Shirley's eyes are all crackled.  One thing for sure, do not put oil on them, as some have suggested at one time.  It will seep into the composition and you'll have a bigger mess and a ruined doll.

[libow2014]

Any tips for this spooky Crissy?!

[antique-ave]

I used a plastic funnel and hair dryer.   put the tip of the funnel over eye and use hair dryer.  It works very well.

[moffeliten2012]

I'm using dish washer. Put a couple of drops in each eye. Lay the doll on her back and leave her like this for about 10 minutes. Then use a q-tip and gently brush the eyes (do NOT use force doing this. 

Rinse the eyes in running water and blow dry (lowest temperature).

If it's still dirty, do it all over again until they eyes are clear.

[sher548]

The cone and dryer method worked for me. I know I will do it one more time because she needs it.  I didn’t want to over do it to begin with, so I’m working on her kinked hair from a ponytail and them I’ll go back to eyes. My doll is a 18”  Miss Margie from Belle Company.