We know there can be a lot to learn when it comes to ocular prosthetics. Below are answers to some of the most common questions we hear, with helpful tips for making care and daily life feel simple and manageable. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out—we’re here for you.
A prosthetic eye is a hand-crafted, personalized artificial eye designed specifically for your unique eye socket for the most natural look, comfortable fit, and best possible movement. Unlike stock or pre-made options, a custom ocular prosthesis is created one patient at a time using detailed measurements (and often an impression) to ensure a precise, secure fit.
At Advanced Eye Prosthetics, our ocularist designs your custom prosthetic eye to match your natural eye as closely as possible—including the iris color, pupil size, and subtle details like veining—so it blends beautifully in everyday life and photographs. A properly fitted custom artificial eye can help restore facial balance, improve comfort, and support long-term socket health.
Many people have heard the term “glass eye,” but modern prosthetic eyes are not made of glass. Today’s custom prosthetic eyes are .
Modern prosthetic eyes are made from a medical-grade acrylic called PMMA, which has a smooth, polished finish and is designed to be lightweight, durable, and comfortable for longer-term wear.
At Advanced Eye Prosthetics, we also use high-quality oil paints to create vibrant, lifelike color that is resists fading and holds up beautifully over time, along with silk thread to replicate delicate blood vessels for a natural, realistic appearance.
Yes—In most cases, custom ocular prostheses are considered medically necessary and are covered with your insurance plan under the durable medical equipment benefit.
Coverage varies depending on your plan. Most insurances require that you have a a prescription from your physician, eye doctor, or surgeon for receiving durable medical equipment. You can request one from your doctor, or we can request one on your behalf.
Our care team will work with you and your insurance company to ensure the best coverage your insurance company will provide. Please call us at 833-208-9009 or email us at office@advancedeyeprosthetics.com if you have any questions about coverage, authorizations, or referrals. We can get the process started for you!
If you don’t have insurance coverage, we provide self-pay discounts so that you can move forward with your care.
No—Advanced Eye Prosthetics does not require a referral. You’re welcome to contact us directly to schedule an appointment or free consultation with our ocularist.
If you do have a referral from your ophthalmologist, oculoplastic surgeon, or eye care provider, we’re happy to accept it and coordinate care as needed—but it is not required to be seen in our office.
In most cases, you can be fit for a custom prosthetic eye about 8 weeks after surgery, once your eye socket has had time to heal and swelling has decreased. This healing period helps ensure your ocular prosthesis fits comfortably.
Your surgeon will guide the timing and will let you know when healing is complete and you're ready for prosthesis placement. Every patient heals a little differently; our experienced ocularist is happy to coordinate with your surgeon and guide you through the next steps when the timing is right.
That’s completely okay—many of our patients are new to prosthetic eyes, and we’ll guide you through the entire process step by step. Our care team will take time to answer your questions, explain what to expect, and create a plan that feels comfortable and reassuring.
During your first visit, our ocularist will typically:
If you’re ready for fabrication, we’ll create your custom ocular prosthesis (artificial eye) and teach you proper care and maintenance.
For most patients, getting a prosthetic eye does not hurt. The process is designed to be gentle and comfortable, and many people are surprised by how easy the appointments feel. You may notice mild pressure or temporary sensitivity during certain steps—such as taking measurements, an impression, or making adjustments—but it should not be painful.
Our ocularist focuses on a comfortable fit and a calm, supportive experience. We take our time, explain each step, and make adjustments as needed to ensure your ocular prosthesis feels as natural as possible.
If you ever experience significant pain, swelling, or increasing discomfort from your ocular prosthesis, we encourage you to contact us so we can evaluate your fit and help you feel better quickly.
Yes—our goal is to create a custom prosthetic eye that matches your natural eye as closely as possible. Our ocularist hand-paints your ocular prosthesis to match important details such as iris color, pupil size, brightness, and subtle veining.
While no prosthetic eye can be an exact “identical copy,” most of our patients are extremely happy with how natural and lifelike their custom artificial eye looks. Our ocularist makes you the priority—if you're unhappy with the fit or color for any reason, he will work with you to make it right.
Prosthetic eyes can move to some degree, depending on how your surgery was done or how much movement your existing damaged eye has.
Your custom prosthetic eye sits over the implant and surrounding tissues in the socket, or over your damaged eye, which allows it to follow natural eye movement, especially during everyday expressions and conversation.
Movement varies from person to person based on your surgery type, implant, healing, and anatomy. We’ll help you understand what kind of movement may be possible for you.
No—an artificial eye is cosmetic only and does not restore vision. A custom prosthetic eye is designed to match your natural eye and improve appearance by restoring facial balance and symmetry, but it cannot provide sight.
Our goal at Advanced Eye Prosthetics is to create a comfortable, natural-looking prosthesis that restores facial symmetry and helps you feel confident in your appearance.
A prosthetic eye is made for someone who is missing an eye; often the person has had surgery such as an enucleation or evisceration to remove the eye. The prosthetic eye is custom-made and hand-painted to match your remaining eye and give you a more natural appearance.
A scleral shell is made for someone who still has an existing eye that may be blind, small, or damaged. A scleral shell is a thin ocular prosthesis that fits over the existing damaged eye. The scleral shell is also custom-made and hand-painted to match your healthy eye and give you a more natural appearance. It's a good option for someone who wants to improve the look and comfort of a damaged eye.
Enucleation and evisceration are two different types of eye removal surgery. Both are performed for medical reasons (such as trauma, infection, pain, or disease) and both can be followed by fitting a custom prosthetic eye.
Your surgeon will recommend the best procedure based on your diagnosis and overall eye health. After healing, our ocularist can create a custom ocular prosthesis to restore a natural appearance and comfortable fit.
Most ocular prostheses last between 5-8 years for adults and 3-5 years for children, but the exact lifespan depends on your individual anatomy, how your socket changes over time, and how well the prosthesis is maintained.
You may need a replacement sooner if you notice changes such as discomfort, increased discharge, a loose or tight fit, or a change in appearance. Children often need replacements more frequently due to growth.
With routine care and regular professional polishing, many patients are able to wear the same prosthetic eye comfortably for years.
An ocularist is a healthcare specialist who designs, fits, and maintains custom ocular prostheses (artificial eyes) for people who are missing an eye or have a damaged/non-seeing eye.
Ocularists are not doctors.
Ocularists are specialized clinicians and artisans who are trained to fabricate and fit custom ocular prostheses. They don’t diagnose medical conditions, perform surgery, or write prescriptions. At Advanced Eye Prosthetics, our ocularist often works closely with ophthalmologists and oculoplastic surgeons to provide custom ocular prostheses.
Great question! Each of these specialists are an important part of your eye care team and have different roles:
For additional information about each one, see the EYE CARE TEAM section below.
Most patients benefit from professional polishing every 6 to 12 months. Polishing helps:
We’ll recommend the best polishing frequency for your needs.
Most people do not need to remove their prosthesis daily. In fact, frequent removal can sometimes cause additional irritation. We’ll give you personalized guidance based on your comfort, discharge level, and anatomy.
In general:
See At-Home Care for more details. We’ll also teach you safe handling and cleaning methods during your visit.
Yes—most patients can sleep with their prosthetic eye in, and it’s very common to wear your ocular prosthesis continuously. In fact, frequent removal isn’t usually necessary and can sometimes cause irritation for some people.
Yes—most patients can safely wear makeup with an ocular prosthesis without any issues.
Some discharge is common with an ocular prosthesis. Regular polishing and proper hygiene often help reduce buildup and irritation. If discharge increases significantly or becomes painful, it’s a good idea to contact us.
You may need a visit if you notice:
Showering—yes. Most patients shower comfortably with their ocular prosthesis in place.
Swimming—yes. Many people swim with their ocular prosthesis and have no problems or issues. However, there is always a chance the prosthesis could be lost in a pool or open bodies of water if it were to fall out. While a prosthesis typically has enough suction to remain in place, accidents can happen and it could pop out for some reason.
If you plan to swim, we recommend wearing goggles for extra security—or removing the prosthesis beforehand if you prefer.
Definitely! A prosthetic eye is designed to fit securely and comfortably, so you can typically go about life as usual, including work, school, errands, and social activities.
It’s important to wear appropriate eye protection to help prevent your prosthesis from being lost and to protect your natural eye.
If you're doing an adventurous activity, always wear goggles or remove your prosthetic eye so that you don't dislodge or damage your prosthesis. Swimming, diving, water skiing, bungee jumping, and riding roller coasters are some of the common situations where a prosthesis can be lost.
If you're doing an adventurous activity, always wear goggles or remove your prosthetic eye so that you don't dislodge or damage your prosthesis. Swimming, diving, water skiing, bungee jumping, and riding roller coasters are some of the common situations where a prosthesis can be lost.
If your prosthesis is cracked or damaged, we’ll evaluate whether it can be safely repaired or if a replacement is the best option.
If your prosthesis is lost, you will need to have a new one made.
In either case, call our office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment for your new prosthesis. You can call us toll-free at 833-208-9009.
In the meantime, place a clean conformer or an older prosthesis in your socket to help maintain comfort and shape. If you need a conformer to wear, let us know.
An ocularist is a prosthetic eye specialist (not typically a medical doctor)
What they do:
You see an ocularist when:
An optometrist is a Doctor of Optometry (OD) (not an MD/DO)
What they do:
You see an optometrist when:
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) specializing in eyes
What they do:
You see an ophthalmologist when:
An oculoplastic surgeon is an ophthalmologist (MD/DO) with additional fellowship training in oculoplastic and orbital surgery
What they do:
You see an oculoplastic surgeon when:
We hope these answers are helpful as you learn more about prosthetic eye care. Please note that this FAQ page is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or a substitute for professional medical evaluation.
If you have any concerns about your healing or have urgent symptoms, please contact your surgeon, physician, or medical provider.
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