Glass eye making
The making of prosthetic eyes from cryolite glass.
Status | Critically endangered |
Historic area of significance | |
Area currently practised | |
Origin in the UK | |
Current no. of professionals (main income) | 2 |
Current no. of professionals (sideline to main income) |
0 |
Current no. of trainees | 0 |
Current total no. serious amateur makers |
0 |
Current total no. of leisure makers |
0 |
Minimum no. of craftspeople required |
History
Glass eyes were once widely made in the UK and were the standard ocular prosthesis. Most are now made from PMMA (poly methyl methacrylate) also known as acrylic glass. Modern glass eyes are made from cryolite glass that is highly biocompatible and does not include any chemical additives.
Despite the dominance of PMMA in modern prosthetics, there are some that argue that glass eyes are better for some patients and that glass eyes reflect light in a way that is more similar to the natural eye. In some European countries, such as Germany, glass is still the normal standard for ocular prosthesis whereas in the UK they have largely been replaced by synthetic materials.
Cryolite is a specialised white glass which becomes translucent at high temperatures. It has been specially developed for artificial eyes and is produced by specialised glassworks. The coloured parts of the eye prosthesis are also made of glass. Iris markings, pupil, veins etc. are melted onto the cryolite glass with the aid of coloured glass.
Techniques
The base material for the manufacture of artificial eyes is a tube of white cryolite glass, from which a sphere is blown. The iris is built up from coloured glass, a black pupil is added and the cornea reproduced.
Local forms
Sub-crafts
Issues affecting the viability of the craft
-
Glass has been replaced by synthetic materials – however, there is still a demand for glass eyes some consider them superior to synthetic eyes for their more realistic appearance and because they are less likely dry out.
-
Lack of skills to make glass eyes – the ocularist who has reintroduced glass eye making to the UK had to go to Latvia to find the skills.
Support organisations
Craftspeople currently known
Individual craftspeople:
- Valdis Valters – a highly skilled maker from Latvia. He is the owner of the UK company, John Pacey-Lowrie
- Jost Haas – Glass eye supplier to the NHS
Other information
References
-
Valdis Valters making a glass eye on YouTube
- Daily Mail article on Jost Haas, Maddy Fletcher, Dec 2022
- The Glass Eye Maker – Jost Haas (Documentary)
- The last of the glass eye makers, BBC March 2012