In the Eye of the Beholder: Medical Museum: University of Iowa Health Care: Sight, Illusion, and Disorder

In the Eye of the Beholder: Sight, Illusion, and Disorder

Prostheses

Eyes of glass were first blown in Venice around 1579 and were manufactured in much the same way into this century. Today most ocular prostheses are made of acrylic (plastic) because this material can withstand wide temperature fluctuations, and is lightweight and unbreakable.

17. Glass prostheses, circa 1900, from the collection of Mitchell Wolf, MD

A series of photographs documents the process of making a custom prosthesis. Ocularists first make a mold of the wearer's eye socket, then they make painstaking adjustments to exactly match the color, shape and blood vessel pattern to the companion eye. Before-and-after views show the dramatic difference in appearance that results when a disfigured eye is replaced with a prosthesis. An artificial eye is truly a work of art, and visitors are challenged to distinguish the real from the artificial organ.

18. Detail from #19.

Click here for a demonstration of prosthetic eye removal.

Last modification date: Mon Jun 5 14:08:40 2006
URL: http://www.uihealthcare.com /depts/medmuseum/galleryexhibits/eyeofbeholder/07prostheses.html