Appointments
There are three appointments to make your artificial eye.
The First and Second appointments are typically 1-2 days apart, and the final fitting is one week later.
Travelling from
far away?
If you’re travelling significant distances, the first and second appointments may be combined into one 3 hour appointment where possible.
First Appointment - 1 Hour
At your first appointment we will assess the eye socket and eyelids and gather information about the reason for eye loss, any related medical information and surgical history in relation to your eyes.
We then take an impression of the eye socket to capture its unique size, shape and contours. This allows a snug and comfortable fit, maximising movement and reducing irritation or discharge. Similar to a dental impression – it feels a little strange, but not painful, taking only a few minutes to complete.
Next, we begin painting to match the colour to your natural eye. We achieve this by blending pigments while observing you closely — replicating colour variations and patterns for a realistic iris appearance.
Second Appointment - 2 Hours
After your first appointment we make an exact match of the impression in acrylic plastic, ready for your second appointment. This is our prototype.
We start the second visit by inserting the prototype and make fine adjustments to ensure comfort, optimal eyelid position and best available movement. This process involves removing and reinserting the prototype several times until we are satisfied with the appearance and comfort.
Once the fitting is complete, we will finalise the iris painting and carefully match the sclera (the white of the eye) and veins to the companion eye, creating a natural, lifelike result.
Third Appointment - 30 Minutes
At your final appointment, your custom prosthesis will be fitted. We will show you how to insert and remove the prosthesis and provide instructions for its care. Occasionally, minor adjustments to the prosthesis may be needed during this visit to ensure the best possible result.
Follow up & Polish Appointments - 30 Minutes
Follow‑up visits help us to monitor the ongoing health of your eye socket and eyelids and the ongoing fitting of your artificial eye. We will clean and polish your prosthesis to remove any protein deposits on the surface and return the surface to its original shine.
Adult clients usually benefit from annual follow up appointments.
Children may require more frequent visits to ensure we are making new prostheses in response to growth and development. These appointments also allow time for a play and familiarisation. Our therapy dog, Zazou is always keen for a visit if you’d like a pat or play!