Prosthetics / Orbital
Orbital Prosthetics.
Custom prosthetics that restore the full ocular region — eye, eyelids, and surrounding tissue — after exenteration or trauma.
Custom prosthetics that restore the full ocular region — eye, eyelids, and surrounding tissue — after exenteration or trauma.
When the eye, eyelid, and surrounding tissue have all been removed — a procedure called exenteration — an orbital prosthesis is needed. Unlike an ocular prosthesis (which fits inside an intact socket), an orbital prosthesis recreates the full ocular region: skin, lids, and a removable artificial eye, fused into one prosthesis that blends with the face.
Each prosthesis is built from medical-grade silicone, pigmented to match your skin, and houses a removable acrylic artificial eye that mirrors your remaining eye. The result protects the socket and underlying tissue from debris and bacteria, and restores facial balance.
Two retention options are available: daily medical-grade adhesive, or craniofacial implants surgically placed for permanent magnet or clip retention. Implant-retained cases require approximately 10–12 weeks of healing before fitting begins.
A precise impression of the orbital area captures the anatomical landmarks needed to anchor the prosthesis naturally.
David Trainer hand-sculpts the prosthesis in wax, refining lid contours, brow line, and orbital depth to mirror your facial structure.
Skin-tone pigments are blended into the silicone; the iris of the artificial eye is hand-painted to match your remaining eye.
Surface texture, capillary detailing, and final polish are applied. We fit, demonstrate retention method, and walk through care.
Real results from real patients. All images shared with patient consent.
“The staff are very professional. They walked me through every step and worked around my schedule.”
David brings 40+ years of clinical experience to every facial prosthesis he creates. Certified in England, Germany, and the USA, he coordinates closely with maxillofacial surgeons on implant-retained orbital cases — from surgical planning through final fitting — so the prosthesis sits naturally and the integration is invisible.
An ocular prosthesis is an artificial eye fitted into a socket where only the eye itself was removed. An orbital prosthesis is needed when the eye, eyelids, and surrounding tissue have all been removed (a procedure called exenteration). The orbital prosthesis restores the entire ocular region, combining a removable acrylic artificial eye with surrounding silicone that matches the skin.
Two attachment methods are available. The simpler option is medical-grade skin adhesive, applied daily. For a more secure, long-term solution, craniofacial implants can be surgically placed; the prosthesis is then retained by magnets or clips, eliminating the need for adhesive entirely.
If you choose implant-retained retention, the surgical placement is followed by approximately 10 to 12 weeks of healing before the prosthesis can be fitted. During healing the implant integrates with the surrounding bone, providing a stable anchor for years of secure wear.
Yes. Beyond the cosmetic restoration, the prosthesis covers and protects the underlying socket and tissues from debris, bacteria, and direct contact. Patients typically experience improved comfort and reduced infection risk once the prosthesis is in place.
Yes. VA benefits cover 100% of the cost of custom orbital prosthetics for eligible veterans, and we coordinate paperwork directly with the VA. Many private insurance plans, Medicare, and Medicaid also cover medically necessary orbital prosthetics — we verify your benefits before treatment.
The silicone portion typically remains optimal for about 1 to 2 years before color shift and edge wear require refurbishment. The acrylic artificial eye component can often be retained longer with periodic polishing. We schedule maintenance visits to extend the prosthesis lifespan.
The standard fitting process takes four visits: impression of the orbital area, sculpting in wax to match your facial structure and brow line, intrinsic coloring blended into the silicone, and final extrinsic coloring with delivery. Implant-retained cases add the healing window before the impression visit.
Schedule a consultation with David Trainer — no obligation, just a conversation about your options.