Ocular prosthetics
Our ocular prosthetics department is the largest of its type in the UK. It fits and manufactures a complete range of custom-made ocular prostheses (artificial eyes).
Our ocular prosthetics department is the largest of its type in the UK. It fits and manufactures a complete range of custom-made ocular prostheses (artificial eyes).
Appointment information020 7566 2478
Fax 020 7566 2317
What this service does
Our ocular prosthetics department is the largest of its type in the UK. The team here fits and manufactures a complete range of custom-made ocular prostheses (artificial eyes).
Artificial eyes can be provided to people who have had their eye removed (enucleated or eviscerated) which is very rare, or to people who have damaged eyes, small eyes, or other eye-related conditions.
Initially, a temporary prosthesis is provided from stock and will be worn until an individual custom-made prosthesis can be made. The custom-made prostheses are made from high quality cross-linked acrylic (glass eyes can also be arranged) and are individually fitted (moulded). They are manufactured by the ocularist in the department at Moorfields and hand painted in front of the patient. This ensures continuity of treatment and eliminates the inaccuracies that can occur when the prosthesis is manufactured at a separate location.
We also provide cosmetic shells. These are moulded and hand painted and are routinely manufactured in acrylic to less than one millimeter thickness. They can be made with optical corrections, clear pupils and as a solution to ptosis (droopy eyelids). They can also be fitted to microphthalmic (small eyes) or phthisical (wasted) eyes.
Facial prostheses are supplied normally following exenteration (the removal of the entire contents of the eye socket, including eyeball, muscles, fat and tissues) and can be constructed of acrylic and/or silicone rubber. They are positioned and held in place by adhesives or by attachment to spectacles. We can also provide prostheses that are attached to orbital bone retained implants for greater sophistication. These are all manufactured on site. The orbital area is moulded and the new face area sculpted in clay and wax to restore symmetry with the companion orbital area.
If a child is born with either anophthalmia (no eye/eyes) or microphthalmia (small eyes), the eye socket needs to be expanded to ensure that there is no residual orbital imbalance and to stimulate natural orbital and soft tissue development. This is achieved by various means over a period of days and weeks, depending on the individual case, to a point where a cosmetic prosthesis can be provided. This process needs repeating frequently to match the growth and stimulate socket expansion. Our ocularists and surgical team have a great deal of experience and expertise in these more difficult cases.
How do I get an appointment with this service?
Patients can be referred to our ocular prosthetics team from other clinics within Moorfields, from other eye hospital departments or directly by their GP.
