FAQs

An ocularist is a highly specialized artisan and healthcare professional who creates and fits prosthetic eyes made of special glass or plastic.

The craft of making a glass eye using a Bunsen burner is a centuries-old art that is now mastered by only a handful of specialists worldwide. In Germany, there are only about 70 active ocularists in total. Training in Germany is not yet regulated by the state, but is organized through professional associations such as the German Ocularists’ Association (DOG) and takes a demanding six to seven years to complete.

In Germany, glass is the most commonly used material for high-quality ocular prostheses. It is extremely biocompatible, completely resistant to the acids in tears, and allows for the formation of a natural tear film, ensuring optimal comfort.

We use only special glass for your custom ocular prosthesis. It is completely biocompatible, has been tested for safety, and meets the strict requirements of the European MDR (Medical Device Regulation) for medical devices.

The prosthesis is made of various types of specialty glass:

• Cryolite glass: This white, lead-free specialty glass forms the base and the white body of the prosthesis (the sclera).
• Crystal and alkali silicate glass: These transparent types of glass are used to create the delicate iris pattern and give the eye its natural optical depth.
• Calcium phosphate glass: Serves as a color-bearing base for the detailed structuring of the iris

No, an ocular prosthesis is not a sphere, but a custom-fitted, curved half-shell.
There are three reasons why many people still think of it as a sphere:

• Anatomy: The natural human eye is spherical, which is why one automatically assumes that a replacement would have the same structure.
• The Manufacturing Process: The foundation of denture-making is, in fact, a hand-blown hollow glass sphere, from which the finished shell is carved out only in the final step.
• Pop culture: In movies, the cliché of a rolling ball is often used for comedic effect. Famous examples include the eye that pops out in the animated film *Shrek* or the wooden eye of the pirate Ragetti in *Pirates of the Caribbean*, which rolls across the floor like a marble. In reality, such a falling-out or rolling is impossible due to the eyeball’s spherical shape.

The mobility of your ocular prosthesis is often surprisingly good. However, how well the artificial eye moves depends primarily on the existing eye muscles and the implant used.

A custom-made artificial eye mimics the natural movements of your muscles as closely as possible. However, the prosthesis itself cannot generate movement entirely on its own; rather, it transmits the remaining mobility of the eye socket to the visible front surface.

Yes, if a glass artificial eye slips out of your hand and hits a hard surface (such as bathroom tiles), it can break.

No need to worry in your daily life: As long as the artificial eye is seated in your eye socket, it cannot break. There, it is safely protected on all sides by your facial bones.

No, unfortunately that’s not possible—but it’s a perfectly understandable and valid question!

Modern prosthetic eyes are now crafted with such attention to detail and look so deceptively real that, visually, it’s hard to tell them apart from a healthy eye. It’s therefore perfectly normal to ask yourself this question.

However, an artificial eye is made solely for aesthetic purposes and to maintain the shape of the eye socket. Since it is not connected to the optic nerve, it unfortunately cannot restore vision.

In this surgical procedure, the eyeball is removed—for example, in cases of severe injury or eye tumors. The surrounding fatty and conjunctival tissue, as well as the eye muscles, remain in the eye socket. The muscles are sutured to an implant. This ensures that the artificial eye remains securely in place and can move freely.

You can obtain a glass ocular prosthesis during our consultation days or directly at our institute in Wiesbaden. Please make an appointment in advance.

The process of getting your artificial eye involves three simple steps:

1. The Process: First, your ophthalmologist will issue a prescription for a glass ocular prosthesis based on the appropriate diagnosis (e.g., post-enucleation or anophthalmos—the complete absence of one or both eyes).
2. The Appointment: Use this form to schedule an appointment with us at the institute.
3. The Fitting: On the scheduled date, the glass ocular prosthesis will be custom-made just for you. The shape, color, and fit will be perfectly tailored to you. The glass prosthesis is crafted over a flame in your presence and can be inserted immediately after a short cooling period.

Billing varies depending on your insurance status:

• Those with public health insurance: You need a valid prescription for medical devices from an ophthalmologist that includes a diagnosis. Important: The prescription must not be more than 28 days old at the time of submission. The copayment under public health insurance is €10 per prosthesis.
• Social Security Offices / Occupational Accident Insurance Associations (BG) / Accident Insurance Funds: For us to provide treatment, we only require a prior written commitment from the respective authority to cover the costs.
• Privately insured patients: You will receive an invoice from us, which you should then submit to your insurance company for reimbursement along with your doctor’s prescription. Please bring a prescription from your ophthalmologist to your appointment. Health insurance companies require this proof of medical necessity to reimburse the costs of the custom-made medical device. Additionally, the prescription serves as our legal authorization to manufacture the device.

A visit to our institute takes about two hours in total. During this time, we will craft your artificial eye entirely by hand, so you can take it home with you right away.

The process consists of the following steps:

• Examination & Color Selection: First, we carefully examine your eye socket. From our extensive selection of semi-finished ocular prostheses (spherical blanks with iris colors already fused onto them), we select the model that exactly matches your natural iris color and the shade of the white of your eye (sclera).
• Shaping & Fabrication: This selected model serves as the basis. The ocularist will use it to craft your custom, perfectly fitting eye socket right there on the spot, in your presence, over the flame.
• Fitting & Consultation: After a short cooling-off period, the finished artificial eye is fitted. Finally, we take plenty of time to provide a detailed consultation on the proper handling, fitting, and care of your new prosthesis.

No, fitting an ocular prosthesis is not usually painful.

• During fitting: For most patients, the fine adjustment of the prosthesis in the eye socket feels more like gentle pressure or a slight sensation of a foreign body—similar to inserting a large contact lens. However, it does not hurt.
• After insertion: Wearing the lenses may feel unusual at first, as your eyelids and the surrounding tissue need time to adjust to the new shape.
• Important: A well-fitting denture should not cause any pain. If you experience persistent discomfort or pain, please come see us as soon as possible so we can determine the cause and adjust the fit if necessary.

The goal of a custom-made contact lens is to achieve a harmonious and natural appearance. We precisely match the color, shape, size, and pattern of the iris to your healthy eye.

However, how perfect the final result will be also depends on the medical condition of your eye socket. Our goal is always to ensure that the artificial eye is as inconspicuous as possible in everyday life.

The pupil of an ocular prosthesis is rigid. This means it cannot adjust to changes in light. This is different from your healthy eye:

In the dark, your real pupil gets very large. In bright light, the pupil of your healthy eye contracts and becomes very small. Since the pupil of the artificial eye always remains the same size, you may notice a slight difference compared to your healthy eye, depending on the brightness. This is completely normal and technically unavoidable.

We recommend cleaning them daily with lukewarm water. However, you can decide how often to clean them based on your personal preferences and how comfortable they feel when worn.

Your eyelid closure is also important here: Ifthe eyelid closescompletely, the artificial eye cleans itself almost entirely through blinking. If it does not close completely, more frequent cleaning is necessary.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Under no circumstances should a broken or damaged prosthesis be reinserted! Even if only a tiny corner is broken off or the surface is slightly chipped, the sharp edges pose a serious risk of injury to your eye socket.

Please bring the parts to us anyway: Please keep all the pieces carefully. We can temporarily reassemble larger fragments using a special wax. This allows us to accurately identify the original shape and color of your previous prosthesis and use it as a template for the quick fabrication of your new eye.

Many people can wear traditional ocular prostheses (following an eye removal) without any problems, even at night. The prosthesis can be removed, but does not have to be. If the eyelids close properly, the artificial eye can remain in the eye socket for an extended period of time—even at night—thanks to its hypoallergenic, extremely smooth surface.

You should always remove bulbous shells (thin shell prostheses worn over a blind but still-intact eye) at night. This allows your own eyeball to recover fully while you sleep.

No, that can lead to medical problems. The artificial eye isn’t just for cosmetic purposes; it also helps maintain the shape of the eye socket.

If you remove your dentures for an extended period of time, this may have the following consequences:

• Shrinkage: The eye socket may narrow, making it impossible for a prosthesis to fit inside later on.
• Changes: The eyelids may sag or change in appearance.
• Irritation: The sensitive mucous membrane in the eye socket is more prone to inflammation.

Therefore, please never remove your artificial eye for an extended period of time without first consulting your ocularist or ophthalmologist.

Moisturizing eye drops (often called “artificial tears”) help relieve the sensation of dryness. These products quickly alleviate the discomfort and form a protective film over the prosthesis.

If the eye is watering heavily or producing an increased amount of discharge (mucus), the eye socket is usually reacting to an irritant.

Typical causes of this include:

• Environment & Health: A cold, an allergy, or a small foreign object (such as a speck of dust).
• Dryness: Paradoxically, the eye often waters precisely when the mucous membranes are actually too dry.
• Wear and tear: As the artificial eye ages, its surface becomes rough and irritates the eye socket.

Important: If tearing or discharge persists for an extended period, do not wait. Please have your eye socket and prosthesis examined by your ocularist or ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

As a general rule, a glass ocular prosthesis is replaced once a year to prevent inflammation and ensure optimal comfort.

The service life and the intervals between replacements depend on the following factors:

• Natural wear and tear: Tear fluid and environmental factors cause the glass surface to become rough over time, which can irritate the eyelids.
• Changes in the Eye Socket: The eye socket can change slightly over time, which may eventually cause the prosthesis to no longer fit perfectly. Therefore, regular checkups are recommended—even if you are not experiencing any pain.
• When is it necessary to replace a prosthesis sooner? If you notice any significant changes in the seat, if you experience discomfort or irritation, and especially:
• For children: Since the face and eye socket are constantly changing as the child grows, it is standard practice to replace the prosthesis approximately every 6 months (and for infants and toddlers, depending on their stage of development, even every 2 to 4 months). The prosthesis essentially grows with the child and ensures that the eye socket develops symmetrically.

Swimming is no problem. However, we recommend that you wear goggles. They protect the eye socket from chlorine and germs while also safeguarding your healthy eye.

When swimming, avoid diving headfirst into the water. The sudden water pressure could otherwise dislodge the artificial eye, causing it to be washed away and lost.

During activities such as scuba diving, skydiving, or bungee jumping, the body is subjected to strong forces and pressure conditions.

Please always consult with us or your eye doctor before engaging in such activities so that we can provide you with personalized advice tailored to your sport.

In the vast majority of jobs, you can work as usual. Depending on your workplace, however, there are two things to keep in mind:

• When working at a computer: Because you’re focusing intently on the screen, you blink less often. This can lead to a feeling of dryness. Moisturizing eye drops can help.
• In dusty or manual labor environments: Dust particles can cause the surface of the prosthesis to wear down more quickly. Please always wear appropriate safety glasses in such environments.