When is prosthetic eye necessary?

A prosthetic eye may be necessary for patients who have had a severe eye injury or eye trauma, or have experienced a serious eye disease, such as cancer of the eye, an uncontrollable infection, end-stage glaucoma and unmanageable eye pain in a non-seeing eye. In the above cases, it is often impossible to save the eye, in which instance, surgical eye removal is necessary. The most common procedures carried out to remove a damaged or diseased eye are enucleation and evisceration surgery. Once the eye is removed, the surgeon normally fits the patient with a custom-made implant within the orbital tissues. This acts as a volume replacement to prevent the socket from appearing hollow and sunken. Once the socket has settled, a prosthetic shell, which may also be referred to as an artificial eye, glass eye or ocular prosthesis. Prosthetic eyes do not restore a patient’s vision, but they can provide them with a more natural looking appearance, since they can be custom-made to match the size and colour of other, working eye. This means that it is often difficult for other people to notice that a person has an artificial eye.

How is a prosthetic eye fitted?

Once your eye surgeon has established that your socket is well healed, which will be around 3-6 weeks after the surgery, you will be sent to have your custom artificial eye fitted (prosthesis). The prosthetic eye will have been made just for you, in order to match the appearance of your other eye in shape, size and colour. The prosthetic eye is made by creating a mould of the eye socket so that it exactly matches the shape and fits over the orbital implant correctly. The fitting procedure is painless and can take up to two hours to carry out. When being fitted, the conformer shell which was put in during the enucleation surgery will be removed and the custom artificial eye fitted. Just like the conformer, the prosthetic eye is curved shaped, like a shell, and will fit behind the eyelid. As we age, our eye sockets can naturally change shape, which means that patients may need to undergo adjustments and re-fittings. They also need to be cleaned annually and should be replacement every 5-7 years. Patients can clean it themselves, and will be shown how to do so by removing it from the eye socket.

Is driving permitted after eye removal?

People with an artificial eye can drive, as long as they are able to see from their other eye and can meet the legal sight requirements for driving. Of course, following this surgery, vision will be reduced, which means a more frequent need to turn the head whilst driving, to accommodate for the loss of vision from the artificial eye side. The DVLA requirements for driving a normal vehicle allow individuals with one eye to drive providing the vision is good enough. People who have undergone this type of surgery are legally required to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and insurance provider.

Prosthetic Eye Fitting

Name: Artificial Eye Implants & Prosthetic Eye | Ocular Prosthetics | Daniel Ezra
Uploaded: 2017-07-13T00:00:00Z
Channel: Daniel Ezra
Description: A prosthetic eye may be necessary for patients who have had a severe eye injury or eye trauma, or have experienced a serious eye disease, such as cancer of the eye, an uncontrollable infection, end-stage glaucoma and unmanageable eye pain in a non-seeing eye.

consult the under-eye experts

Prosthetic eye surgery can restore a natural-looking appearance following the loss or removal of an eye due to disease, injury or other medical reasons. A carefully planned procedure and custom-made prosthesis can help restore facial symmetry and confidence.

Key Information

PRICE

Call for more info

TIME OF PROCEDURE

Depends on several factors

DOWNTIME

1-2 weeks

DISCOMFORT LEVEL

5 out of 5

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What Is a Prosthetic Eye?

A prosthetic eye, also known as an artificial eye or ocular prosthesis, is a custom-made replacement designed for patients who have had an eye removed. It sits over an orbital implant and is carefully created to resemble the patient’s remaining natural eye as closely as possible.

The colour, size, and shape of the prosthesis are individually matched to create a balanced, natural-looking appearance. A prosthetic eye does not restore vision, but it can provide significant cosmetic benefits and help restore facial symmetry following eye removal.

When Is It Necessary?

A prosthetic eye may be required when an eye has been severely damaged by trauma or affected by advanced disease, certain eye cancers or another condition that cannot be successfully treated while preserving the eye. Eye removal may also be considered when a non-seeing eye causes persistent pain or discomfort.

Removing an eye is a significant, irreversible decision and is recommended only when clinically appropriate. A thorough assessment with an experienced oculoplastic surgeon is therefore essential to understand the condition of the eye, explore the available options and determine the most appropriate treatment plan.

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What Does Prosthetic Eye Surgery Involve?

Prosthetic eye treatment is a multi-stage process that begins with a detailed consultation and assessment. Your oculoplastic surgeon will examine the affected eye and surrounding structures, review your medical history and discuss what you can expect from treatment.

Where eye removal is necessary, this may be performed using either enucleation or evisceration. Enucleation involves removing the entire eye, while evisceration removes the contents of the eye while preserving the outer scleral shell. The most appropriate approach depends on the underlying condition and the health of the surrounding tissues.

An orbital implant is usually placed during eye removal surgery to help maintain the natural volume and structure of the eye socket. A temporary conformer is then positioned to support the socket and eyelids while the area heals.

Once healing is sufficient, the next stage is creating and fitting your custom prosthetic eye.

Prosthetic Eye Surgery Recovery

Some swelling, bruising, tenderness and discomfort around the eye socket are expected during the early stages of recovery. You may be prescribed medication, eye drops or ointment to manage discomfort, support healing and reduce the risk of infection.

The temporary conformer usually remains in place while the socket heals. You will attend follow-up appointments so your surgeon can monitor your recovery and advise when the area is ready for a custom prosthetic eye. This is commonly possible after approximately six weeks, although recovery varies between patients.

Other surgical procedures

Sometimes, other procedures are required to improve the soft tissues of the orbit and improve appearance. These may include fat transfer to the upper eyelid sulcus or filler injections to improve orbital volume. Ptosis surgery and lower eyelid tightening are also commonly performed.

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Prosthetic Eye Fitting Procedure

Once the eye socket has healed sufficiently, a specialist ocularist can begin creating your prosthetic eye. An impression of the socket is taken to achieve a comfortable and precise fit, while the colour, size and visible details of your remaining eye are carefully reproduced to create a natural appearance.

The temporary conformer is removed, and the finished prosthesis is positioned within the eye socket, where it sits behind the eyelids. Adjustments can be made to optimise both comfort and appearance.

A prosthetic eye requires ongoing care, including regular cleaning and professional reviews. As the eye socket and surrounding tissues can change over time, the prosthesis may also require adjustment or eventual replacement to maintain a comfortable fit and natural appearance.

Before and after image of prosthetic eye fitting for a woman

What Will a Prosthetic Eye Look Like?

Modern prosthetic eyes can achieve remarkably natural-looking results. Each prosthesis is individually created to match the colour, size and shape of the remaining eye, helping restore balance and symmetry to the face.

However, a prosthetic eye will not behave exactly like a natural eye. Movement is usually possible because the underlying orbital implant can transfer some movement to the prosthesis, but this may be more limited than in the natural eye. The artificial pupil also cannot dilate or constrict in response to changes in light.

Once fully healed and comfortable with their prosthesis, most patients can return to normal everyday activities. This can include wearing make-up, exercising and swimming, although suitable eye protection may be recommended for activities where there is a risk of injury.

Before and After Prosthetic Eye Surgery

The results of prosthetic eye surgery vary depending on the reason for eye removal, the anatomy of the eye socket, and individual healing. Explore our before-and-after results to see how individually designed prosthetic eyes can restore facial symmetry and achieve a natural-looking appearance.

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The Ezra Clinic Approach for Prosthetic Eye Surgery

Prosthetic eye surgery requires detailed knowledge of the complex relationship between the eye socket, eyelids and surrounding facial structures. At The Ezra Clinic, our specialists have extensive expertise in oculoplastic, orbital, and reconstructive surgery, including managing complex cases involving severe eye disease, trauma, and eye removal.

Our approach considers both the functional and aesthetic aspects of treatment, aiming to create a comfortable eye socket and the best possible foundation for a natural-looking prosthesis. If you are considering prosthetic eye surgery, a specialist consultation gives you the opportunity to understand your options and discuss a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs.

FAQ

How much does prosthetic eye surgery cost?

The cost of prosthetic eye surgery depends on your individual circumstances, including the type of eye removal surgery required and the subsequent prosthetic care. Following a detailed consultation and assessment, you will receive a personalised treatment plan and quotation before proceeding.

Is the surgery painful?

Eye removal surgery is performed under anaesthetic, so you should not feel pain during the procedure itself. Some soreness, tenderness and discomfort are expected during the early stages of recovery and can usually be managed with appropriate pain relief as advised by your surgical team.

Fitting the prosthetic eye itself does not require surgery and should not be painful. Your prosthesis is individually designed to fit the eye socket as comfortably as possible.

What are the risks of the procedure?

As with any surgical procedure, eye removal surgery carries potential risks, including bleeding, infection, swelling and problems with wound healing. Some patients may also experience changes to the position or function of the eyelids or require further treatment.

Your individual risks depend on your health, the reason for surgery and the procedure being performed. Your surgeon will discuss these in detail before treatment so you can make a fully informed decision.

Can I swim and exercise with a prosthetic eye?

Yes. Once the eye socket has fully healed and your surgeon has confirmed that it is safe to do so, having a prosthetic eye should not prevent you from swimming, exercising or participating in most everyday activities.

Goggles can provide additional protection when swimming, while appropriate eye protection is particularly important during contact sports or activities where the remaining natural eye could be injured.

How long does it take to make a prosthetic eye?

The process begins once the eye socket has healed sufficiently following surgery. Creating a custom prosthetic eye involves taking an impression of the socket, matching the appearance of the remaining eye and making adjustments to achieve a comfortable fit.

The exact timeframe varies by individual and by the ocularist creating the prosthesis. Your clinical team will explain what to expect and coordinate the fitting process once you are ready.

How long does a prosthetic eye last?

A prosthetic eye can typically be worn for several years, but it is not necessarily a lifetime device. Changes to the eye socket, eyelids and surrounding tissues over time can affect how the prosthesis fits and looks.

Regular professional reviews help ensure that it remains comfortable and in good condition. Adjustments, polishing, or replacement may be recommended when necessary, and many patients require a new prosthesis about every five years.

Is a prosthetic eye a disability?

A prosthetic eye itself is not a disability; it is a cosmetic prosthesis used following the loss or removal of an eye. However, the loss of vision associated with the removed eye may be considered a visual impairment or disability depending on its impact on daily life and the criteria used by the relevant organisation or authority.

A prosthetic eye does not restore sight, so patients with vision in only one eye may experience changes in depth perception and peripheral vision even when the prosthesis provides a natural-looking cosmetic result.

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If you are interested in any of the treatments we offer, or require any clarifications, we would love to hear from you. We deal with all issues relating to the Harley Street and Moorfields practices. You can reach us by phone, by email or by filling out the contact form below.

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