Losing an eye or suffering from any disease or disfiguration of the face or hands is an unbelievably traumatic experience. Not only of the issue itself but also because it will be clearly visible. Glass, or prosthetic eyes are probably the most common of these. Diseases of the eye such as glaucoma or cancer can in their worst cases, necessitate the removal of the eye completely if severe enough.

The glass eye has been around for a couple of thousand years at least. There are records from Rome mentioning wooden versions, which then became glass as the manufacturing process improved. They are much more subtle than an eye patch and less traumatic than leaving the socket empty. Modern methods no longer use glass, but a synthetic material called methyl methacrylate which is an extremely high quality acrylic. So even though this article refers to them as glass eye, this is for readability and understanding rather than fact.

The design and manufacturing process of ocular prostheses is so high now that many types can be bought “off the shelf”. Some people prefer to have one custom made to fit their own socket and mirror the remaining eye as closely as possible. It is a very sensitive issue so many people prefer to make it as unobtrusive as possible. The process of having an eye custom made is similar to that of dentures.

An initial visit and examination will confirm that the area is suitable for a prosthetic. Measurements will be taken of decide the dimensions of the eye and also the color. An impression of the socket will be taken with medial wax in order for the eye to fit perfectly. It will be compared to the remaining eye and the iris marked so it matches. This process, while sounding a little gruesome is necessary in order for the new eye to be as close and as comfortable for the wearer as possible.

The new eye will be manufactured with the methyl methacrylate and moulded to the exact dimensions of the wax impression. Then it will be polished and the fitted to ensure the size is correct. Once the final fit is perfect, an ocularist will hand paint the iris and the details onto the eye while sitting in front of the recipient. This allows as close a comparison to the remaining eye as possible. Despite all of the modern manufacturing methods around, the final touches are still applied by hand.

The whole process may take a little time and can cost up to $10,000. Fortunately most medical insurances will cover the costs. A properly fitted eye will looks almost the same as the real one, and only by looking closely at the movement of lack of it will anyone notice. This can make all the difference to the wearer for not only comfort but self confidence.

Confidence takes a big hit when someone suffers from a visible impairment and can often cause more problems longer term than the physical manifestation itself. Society is very judgemental and doesn’t seem to readily accept difference. This is a shame really as this difference is one of the things that makes humanity so interesting. So as well as coping with the physical effects of the situation, this mental side also needs to be addressed. A prosthetic eye goes some way to achieving that as it can look as real as possible, and lessen the chances of it being noticed.