The most often encountered artificial eye - an acrylic prosthetic eye - is used to replace a natural eye which has been either "enucleated" or "eviscerated". These are the medical terms for surgical removal of all or part of a severely damaged, diseased, or tumored eye. Artificial eyes for such conditions are generally about one centimeter in thickness, and are gradually tapered toward the edges. In special circumstances, custom protrusions can be added to the edges of a prosthesis to accommodate special anatomical needs of certain eye sockets.

Within about 4 to 8 weeks after surgery is the best time to begin making an artificial prosthetic eye, so the prosthesis can become an integral part of the healing process. This is most desirable because the prosthetic eye will help to shape and contour the tissues and eyelids back to their best possible anatomical position which will, over the long run, produce the most natural appearance and artificial eye motion.

After we have determined the proper shape for the artificial eye, the next step is artistic duplication of the color of the eye. This step is one of the features that set us apart from the norm. We build up iris coloration in a way that duplicates the natural iris pigmentation and color texture.

Overall, our proprietary fitting and fabricating techniques give predictably superior results in regard to appearance, comfort, and eye motion. Our expertise in producing an ideal fit and overcoming the limitations of each eye socket are factors that make our work internationally renown. We are expert in fitting children with congenitally undeveloped eyes. Working closely as a Team with the surgeon, we have been successful in restoring the appearance of many, many young children. We accomplish our work in a way that eliminates pain — a factor all artificial eye patients are pleased to hear.

For situations where the eye's vision has been lost, but the eye is not removed, the usual deterioration in appearance can be very successfully corrected by the use of a thin acrylic shell. Scleral shells involve fitting a thin — 1 millimeter or less — "shell" to fully cover a natural eye that has become disfigured, and often is very sensitive and painful. The medical term for such an eye condition is phthisical eye.

The highly positive feature of a thin scleral shell prosthetic eye is that it provides for virtually natural motion, since the natural eye is retained under the shell to give full movement to the prosthesis. This type of artificial eye requires absolutely the highest degree of precision fitting (there is no tolerance for error) if the shell is to be worn and enjoyed full time. As is also the case with the previously described acrylic prosthetic eyes, properly fitted scleral shells only need to removed semi-annually for professional cleaning and polishing.

We have developed proprietary techniques for the artistic creation of scleral shells which duplicate subtle, multi-layer color detailing to match the visioned eye. In addition, we employ a special secondary enlargement technique to gently and symmetrically open the eyelid in a manner that avoids painful over-stretching of delicate eye tissues.

For eyes which are only cosmetically impaired, and are either fully or partially visioned, we have developed a variety of hand painted soft contact lenses that cosmetically correct the appearance and at the same time allow complete vision.

Since these cosmetically enhanced contact lenses are based on the same prescription the patient otherwise wears, they provide the proven level of comfort and convenience from soft lenses — plus they cover a multitude of unwanted discolorations of the natural, underlying iris.

If a person simply wants to add a degree of special artistic enhancement to their eye color, our soft lenses are the easy solution.

We can use the patient’s own contact lenses for comparatively slight changes. Or for a major change in complete eye color — to perhaps coordinate with their attire for a special event — we offer intricately hand painted lenses of any color desired.

Building on this feature, we also make soft lenses used for special effects in the film and entertainment industry. There are virtually unlimited possibilities for using these soft lens materials, ranging from elegant sophistication to the most imaginative shapes and effects for costumes and Hollywood productions.