A collection of glass eyes, c.1880. These were likely meant to be carried by an ocularist – someone who specialized in making and fitting prosthetic eyes – to assist them in making the best possible match to the patient’s remaining eye. #histmed #skystorian
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Creating eye protheses that match the existing eye(s) still exists as a highly specialized trade.
Btw: protheses are not always "balls" but often lens-like, to fit them to tissue that can still move, which adds to aesthetics.
They are one of the top items I look for at antique stores, but have never found one.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/288042/journey-to-the-river-sea-by-eva-ibbotson-illustrated-by-kevin-hawkes/
Having a case full of glass eyes
Caught myself looking which one would fit best to my eyes. 😉
https://www.alainbrieux.com/instruments-anciens-am.html
Did you know you can get very inexpensive costume lenses from SE Asia, including in heavy corrections?)