Although ocular prostheses are often called “glass” eyes, many modern such prostheses are actually made of acrylic.

However, prosthetics fashioned from glass—true glass eyes—still exist and are especially prevalent in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where more than 90% of ocularists manufacture custom glass ocular prosthetics.

These glass ocular prosthetics are individual works of glass art, handmade by an ocularist to specifically match a patient’s need. Ocularists train for about six years, gaining practical experience in addition to their education, to be able to master their art.¹