Ocular prosthetics

The ocular prosthetics department at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is the largest of its type in the UK. The department fits and manufactures a complete range of custom-made ocular prostheses.

Prostheses 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.

Artificial eyes

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 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.

Cosmetic shells

These are a speciality of the department. They 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 prosthesis

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.

Therapeutic/socket expansion

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. The department and surgical team have a great deal of experience and expertise in these more difficult cases.

Where we are

The ocular prosthetics department is located on the first floor at the Trust's main site on City Road in Central London.

Contact us

To get an appointment with the ocular prosthetics department at Moorfields, you need to be referred to us by your ophthalmologist or GP.

For more information about the department, please telephone us on 020 7566 2478 or fax us at 0207 566 2471.

If your query relates to a specific prosthesis fitting problem or want further advice on procedures involved then please contact the chief ocularist by email at: david.carpenter@moorfields.nhs.uk

For further information about the removal of an eye (enucleation), see enucleation in the eye health section.