What Does an Ocularist Do?

Ocularist is a specialized ophthalmic technician that specializes in the fabrication and fitting of an eye prosthesis, or artificial eyes. An ocularist’s career is unique in that it requires both an artistic eye and a medical knowledge base. The work they do is essential to a patient’s life, as the prosthetic eye is more than just an outer shell. It is also an important part of a patient’s self-image, confidence and health-related quality of life.

Ocular prostheses are made of either acrylic plastic or glass. The ocularist will use an impression of the patient’s eye socket to create a model and then paint the eye and surrounding socket to match the color and appearance of the patient’s good eye. Once the ocularist is happy with their work, they will make a duplicate prosthetic eye in acrylic and then polish it to perfection. The ocularist is then ready to place the artificial eye in the socket and help the patient get accustomed to it.

An ocularist will usually be employed in the oculoplastics department of a tertiary care hospital or will be privately-employed and contract with hospitals on an as needed basis. They will be working with patients who have had their natural eye removed due to a tumor, traumatic injury, or blinding disease. The Ocularist will need to have compassion and a delicate touch in dealing with these patients, who are often in pain, and experiencing anxiety about their future.

The ocularist will also be required to regularly monitor the condition of the prosthesis and the health of the socket. It is recommended that patients younger than 3 years of age be seen every three months; patients under 9 will need to be seen twice yearly, and all other patients should be seen at least once a year. Regular polishing of the acrylic ocular prosthesis is also recommended in order to restore its original finish and insure the health of the socket tissue.

After completing the ophthalmic technician program at Howard Community College, Maggie Freeman accepted a position in the float pool at Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins Medicine. While she was doing this, she noticed a display about the prosthetic eye clinic. This was the spark that ignited her desire to become an ocularist.

When ocularists like Danz tell people what they do, they typically receive one of two reactions. They either get a look of bewilderment, or they have a million questions for them. Neither reaction is a bad thing. After all, ocularists are trained to give their patients a life-like and natural looking artificial eye, which in turn, gives them a restored self-image and the ability to return to their lives with confidence and dignity. Ocularists are true artists that combine science with beauty to provide patients with a service that is not only important but is often life changing. This is a profession that deserves recognition for its hard work and dedication to the patients that they serve.