Flash videos:   file size 15 to 30 MB

(Adobe Flash Player required)

Taking an impression
Pupil-iris trimming
Pupil finishing

Artificial eyes are usually made and fitted about six weeks after enucleation.

The process involves four one-hour treatment sessions interspersed with laboratory processing:

At the first session, an impression is taken of the socket and a plastic button is trimmed to the diameter of the iris. The iris colours are matched directly to the patient's natural eye and applied to the button using finest grade oil paints and the smallest of sable hair brushes. When dry, a clear acrylic cornea is processed over the top of the painted iris and an iris/corneal button is produced.

During the second session this iris/corneal button is imbedded into a wax pattern made from the impression and the whole is inserted into the eye socket. The wax is shaped and molded until the direction of gaze, the size and the lid
contour of the eye is established. After the session, a plaster mould is made and the wax is replaced with plastic
(methyl methacrylate).

The third session involves colouring the plastic sclera with yellows, blues and grays and laying in fine veins teased
from nylon thread. Once this is done a clear plastic veneer is processed over the surface of the prosthesis and finished off with a high polish.

The completed prosthesis is fitted in the final session and instructions on wearing and looking after the eye are given. If the socket or eye-lids are asymmetrical in some way the cosmetic result may often be improved with socket surgery.

Cosmetic shells

Cosmetic shells are artificial eyes that fit over an existing blind, disfigured eye. The process for making and fitting is similar to the above but often the iris is painted directly on to the shell in order for the prosthesis to be kept as thin as possible.