The market for ocular prostheses - France

An ocular prosthesis, also known as a glass eye, is a medical device used to fill the gap left by a missing, traumatized or atrophied eye. So, while the eye's functions are not replaced, the prosthesis can reproduce the valid eye almost identically. The aim is therefore primarily aesthetic. These prostheses are made to measure by an ocularist, a healthcare professional accredited by the French Social Security. Each prosthesis is unique. Since time immemorial, people have tried to replace a missing eye to restore a certain aesthetic appeal. In ancient Egyptian culture, eyes were already made of precious stones. It wasn't until the time of Ambroise Paré that functional prostheses appeared (gold or silver balls with painted porcelain irises). In the 18th century, French prostheses were the most sought-after (this type of prosthesis is still used today, notably for microphthalmia). In the 19th century, glassmakers in Lauscha, Germany, developed a mixture containing cryolite, enabling the manufacture of prostheses that were highly resistant to corrosion (two to three years) and had a very natural effect. This glass is still used today (for glass prostheses), although prostheses have undergone numerous innovations in recent years. Today, there are two main types of ocular prosthesis: those made of glass and those made of synthetic resins. Although many eye diseases are now treated and no longer require enucleation, demand remains high (accidents, glaucoma, eye cancers, etc.). By 2021, an estimated 0.1% of the world's population will need an ocular prosthesis, i.e. 8 million people worldwide. Nevertheless, supply remains limited. In France, demand for ocular prostheses is very high, but treatment times are long and the number of ocularists is low (48 in 2022).