BACKGROUND: Providing ocular prosthetic services is an important aspect of total patient care.  A patient who has lost an eye to injury, inflammation, or tumor experiences emotional and psychological trauma similar to that experienced by an amputee.  Congenital absence also creates a special set of circumstances.  A prosthesis that is lifelike in appearance is a comfort to the patient, and the physical wearing comfort becomes a primary prerequisite for the patient.

CASE REPORTS: A variety of congenital and acquired anomalies are used to illustrate the clinical application of modern-day materials used to fabricate and fit ocular prostheses.  A comprehensive evaluative protocol is also presented.

CONCLUSION: New materials and better fitting techniques allow more patients to wear prostheses with greater comfort and cosmetic approval.  The primary care (ophthalmologist and) optometrist should be familiar with the options available to the patient and the standard of care in evaluation of patients who wear a prosthesis.

KEY WORDS: adnexa, blindness, congenital anomalies, enophthalmos, ocular prostheses