Ocular prosthesis (artificial eye) referred to as stock or pre-made eyes of the 'reform' design as originally developed by Herman Snellen, probably made in England, c.1890-1910

Created by a manufacturer in the early 1900s, this example is one from a set of 200. Selections of ocular prosthetics or artificial eyes like this one impressed potential customers with their intricate detail and helped them find the perfect match. Wearing an ocular prosthetic is and was an individual choice. Prior to the creation of the National Health Service in 1948, people would have to seek out a maker and purchase them, often making several trips over a lifetime for repair and maintenance.

Perhaps better known for his work in developing the Snellen type eye test which is still used Herman Snellen (1834-1908) was a Dutch ophthalmologist. Developed in 1892, his design of the “Reform-Auge” (“reform eye”) consisted of a double shell with a gap rather than the single shell design. Snellen’s prosthesis was designed to be worn by people whose eye muscles were still present following surgery.