Prosthetic Eye — 2026 Complete Buyer's Guide (Colors, Sizes, Fitting, Care)
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A well-crafted prosthetic eye restores facial symmetry, comfort, and confidence after eye loss from trauma, enucleation, evisceration, congenital anophthalmia, or phthisis bulbi. This 2026 buyer's guide covers materials, sizing conventions, iris color matching, fitting and insertion, daily care, replacement schedules, and how SciMed's hand-painted medical-grade acrylic prosthesis compares on quality, availability, and cost — for ocularist practices, patients seeking direct purchase, and caregivers of pediatric patients.
Ocular Prosthetic Eye — Hand-Painted Medical-Grade Acrylic
13 iris color options · 6 sizes 18-28 mm · Ships from San Jose, California
View colors and sizes →Quick answer: how do you choose a prosthetic eye?
- Confirm you're a candidate — socket is fully healed after surgery/injury (typically 4-8 weeks after enucleation or evisceration; earlier for congenital anophthalmia with conformer-based expansion)
- Get sized — measure the socket circumference or ask your ocularist for the recommended size (18-28 mm range covers ~95% of adult and pediatric use)
- Match iris color — compare to the natural (fellow) eye under normal room lighting; pick the closest of the 13 options
- Order and receive — SciMed ships from San Jose CA, free US shipping
- Fit and insert — many patients self-insert after brief training; ocularist available for custom fitting adjustment
- Care daily — clean per instructions; polish every 6-12 months; replace every 3-5 years
Types of ocular prosthesis
Stock (pre-made) prosthesis
Standardized shapes and sizes with pre-painted iris color options. Ready to ship, cost-effective, appropriate for temporary use, budget-limited patients, or as a bridge while a custom prosthesis is fabricated. SciMed sells stock prostheses.
Semi-custom (impression) prosthesis
Ocularist makes an impression of the patient's socket and fabricates a semi-custom shell. Better anatomic fit than stock. Typical price $2,500-$5,500 in the US.
Fully custom (hand-painted, sculpted) prosthesis
Full impression, sculpted shape, and hand-painted iris to precisely match fellow eye. Best cosmesis and comfort. Typical price $4,500-$8,000 in the US.
For many patients, the practical journey is: emergency/temporary conformer → stock prosthesis (from SciMed or ocularist) → later upgrade to semi-custom or custom as budget and healing allow. Stock prostheses have a legitimate role at every step of that journey.
Sizing 18-28 mm — which size for whom?
| Size (mm) | Typical patient | Approximate age range |
|---|---|---|
| 18 mm | Infants, toddlers, small pediatric socket | Under 2 years |
| 20 mm | Older toddlers, small children | 2-6 years |
| 22 mm | Older children, small adult sockets, phthisis bulbi | 6-adult |
| 24 mm | Standard adult | Adult (most common) |
| 26 mm | Larger adult socket, post-enucleation with implant | Adult |
| 28 mm | Largest adult socket | Adult |
How to measure: your ocularist measures the socket during the fitting appointment. For direct-order patients, use the size of a previous prosthesis if you have one, or start with 22-24 mm for adults and consult with your provider.
Iris color options (13 colors)
SciMed's prostheses are hand-painted in 13 iris color variations covering the full natural range:
- Blue family: Light blue, medium blue, deep blue, blue-gray
- Green family: Light green, hazel-green
- Hazel family: Light hazel, dark hazel
- Brown family: Light brown, medium brown, dark brown
- Amber / gold family: Amber
- Gray family: Neutral gray
Match to the fellow eye under natural room lighting for the most accurate cosmesis. Very dim or very bright light will distort perceived color.
Materials and safety
- Medical-grade PMMA acrylic — the industry standard for ocular prosthesis since the 1940s; bio-inert and well-tolerated
- Hand-painted iris for depth and realism
- Polished front surface for comfort against conjunctiva
- No metal or magnetic components — MRI-compatible
- Non-latex — safe for latex-sensitive patients
Insertion and removal technique
Insertion
- Wash hands thoroughly
- Wet the prosthesis with saline or your preferred lubricant
- Retract the upper lid with one hand
- Position the top of the prosthesis under the upper lid first
- Release the upper lid
- Retract the lower lid and gently push the prosthesis into place
- Blink several times to seat the prosthesis
Removal
- Wash hands thoroughly
- Retract the lower lid
- Insert a suction cup or clean fingertip under the lower edge of the prosthesis
- Gently rock outward and downward
- The prosthesis will pop out over the lower lid
A prosthesis suction cup ($5-15) makes removal much easier for many patients.
Daily and periodic care
- Daily: lubricate with preservative-free artificial tears 2-4 times daily; do NOT rub the prosthesis while in socket
- Weekly: remove, wash with mild unscented soap + warm water, rinse thoroughly, dry with clean lint-free cloth
- Monthly: inspect for scratches, chips, or discoloration — any of these = time for polish or replacement
- Every 6-12 months: professional polish by ocularist (removes protein deposits and minor surface scratches)
- Every 3-5 years: replace prosthesis (deep protein deposits, surface wear, or fit change from socket remodeling)
- Whenever discomfort persists: see ocularist or ophthalmologist promptly
Warning signs that need professional attention
- Persistent socket discharge (mucus or purulent)
- Redness, swelling, or pain that doesn't resolve overnight
- Change in fit (prosthesis feels loose or falls out)
- Growth of the fellow eye in a pediatric patient (needs re-fit)
- Visible cracks or chips on prosthesis
- Persistent odor even after cleaning
Special considerations
Pediatric patients
Children with congenital anophthalmia or early-life enucleation need progressive re-fitting as the orbit grows. Typical schedule: new size every 6-12 months in early childhood, less frequent through adolescence. Start with 18-20 mm and grow to adult size (22-26 mm) by adolescence.
Post-enucleation vs post-evisceration
Post-enucleation (full globe removed with implant) sockets typically fit 22-26 mm prostheses depending on implant size. Post-evisceration sockets (globe contents removed, scleral shell preserved) may accept slightly smaller sizes.
Phthisis bulbi
Shrunken, disorganized eye that no longer functions as a globe. A scleral shell prosthesis (thin, contact-lens-like) is often placed over the phthisical eye for cosmesis, in the 22-24 mm range.
Contact lens interaction
If you wear a corrective contact lens on the fellow eye, insert and remove the prosthesis separately from the contact lens routine. Do not use contact-lens cleaning solutions on the prosthesis.
Frequently asked questions
Can I self-order a prosthetic eye without an ocularist?
Yes. Many patients purchase directly. However, initial fitting after enucleation, evisceration, or trauma benefits from ocularist expertise. Consider direct purchase for replacement, spare, backup, or budget-limited scenarios.
How do I know what size to order?
Ideal: measure at ocularist appointment. Adult default: 22-24 mm. Pediatric: 18 mm (under 2) or 20 mm (2-6). If replacing a prior prosthesis, match its size.
Can I sleep with my prosthesis in?
Yes, most patients sleep with the prosthesis in. Some prefer to remove overnight to reduce socket dryness — personal preference.
Is the prosthesis MRI-safe?
Yes. Medical-grade PMMA acrylic is non-metallic and MRI-compatible. Inform your MRI technician regardless — they may still ask you to remove for image clarity around the socket.
How often does the prosthesis need to be replaced?
Every 3-5 years is typical for adult patients. Pediatric patients need more frequent re-fits as the orbit grows.
Does insurance cover this?
Coverage varies. Some Medicare and private plans cover ocular prosthetics with proper documentation. Some HSA/FSA accounts are eligible. Contact your insurer.
Do you ship internationally?
Free US shipping. International shipping available with quote — email us. Some countries require import documentation for medical devices.
What's the difference between a scleral shell and a full prosthesis?
A scleral shell is thin (like an oversized contact lens) and used when a phthisical or blind eye is still present. A full prosthesis is thicker and used when the globe has been removed. Different clinical scenarios; both are on-catalog options depending on the patient's anatomy.
Related SciMed products and reading
- Ocular Prosthetic Eye — Hand-Painted Medical-Grade Acrylic
- Fluorescein Sodium Ophthalmic Strips
- Keeler Vantage Plus Wireless BIO
- Shop all Ophthalmology
Ocular prosthesis and eye care from SciMed
Direct from San Jose, California · Free US shipping · HSA/FSA eligible for individuals