FAQ

To be a Board Certified Ocularist, one must be a member of the American Society of Ocularists (ASO). Based in the United States, this is a non-profit organization that has existed since 1957. Mr. François Gordon has been a member of the ASO since 1988 and a Board Certified Ocularist (B.C.O.) since 1993. To obtain certification, ocularists must complete courses presented by doctors, ophthalmologists, psychologists, paramedical professionals, and fellow ocularists.

After passing exams and completing a minimum of five years of practice under the supervision of a certified ocularist, as well as a predetermined number of accumulated credits, we are eligible to obtain a diploma from the A.S.O. Subsequently, we proceed with the certification process through the National Examining Board of Ocularists (N.E.B.O.), which is an independent body from the A.S.O. and governed by a U.S. federal agency, the N.C.H.C.A. (National Commission for Health Certifying Agencies).
We are a small group of 225 members from 15 different countries, though primarily from the United States and Canada. This is why we have this type of training known as an "apprenticeship."

Our certification is valid for four years, and we are required to pursue continuing education through courses, exams, and credit accumulation. This training ensures you receive the best possible professional service, which is constantly evolving.

The golden rule is simple: handle your prosthesis only when necessary. The less you handle your "artificial eye," the better the tissues of your orbit will fare. However, since every individual is unique, there may be exceptions to the rule.

In our experience, most patients remove their prostheses to clean them with soap and water three to five times a year. If you have an eyelash or dust in the orbit, or if smoke has irritated your eyelids, it is recommended to remove the prosthesis and clean it. It may even be necessary to rinse the inside of the orbit with water.

Naturally, it is important to wash your hands with soap and water and rinse them well before handling the prosthesis.

These instructions are for right-handed individuals; left-handed individuals should reverse the hands.

To remove the prosthesis:

With the index finger of the left hand, pull the lower eyelid down at the lash line.
Find the lower edge of the prosthesis with your right fingers or apply a suction cup to the front surface of the prosthesis.
With the thumb of the left hand, lift the upper eyelid to release pressure on the prosthesis.
Finally, remove the prosthesis by moving it forward with your right fingers. Avoid dropping the prosthesis as much as possible. Clean the prosthesis using your fingertips with warm water and soap. Rinse well and do not dry it.

To replace the prosthesis:

with your left thumb, firmly hold the upper eyelid at the lash line and lift the lid to create space. Hold the ocular prosthesis with your right hand and insert the upper portion of the prosthesis into the space created by your left hand.
When the prosthesis is securely in the upper part of the orbit, continue holding the prosthesis with your right hand and, with your left index finger, pull the lower eyelid down at the lash line. Finally, use your right hand to firmly push the prosthesis into the orbit and release the lower eyelid.

While each case must be analyzed individually, the usual lifespan of an ocular prosthesis ranges between five and seven years, depending on the patient's environment, orbital changes, the maintenance the patient provides, the patient's health status, etc. This frequency helps optimize the comfort and aesthetics of the prosthesis.

It is strongly recommended to visit your ocularist at least once a year to check the condition of the "artificial eye," the tissues of the orbit, and the fit of the prosthesis. Most importantly, the ocularist will polish the prosthesis to remove any traces of protein deposits, salts from tears, and potentially bacteria and other microorganisms found in normal orbital secretions.

This polishing will instantly restore optimal comfort and aesthetics, and the visit usually only lasts 30 minutes. The frequency of these visits varies for each patient, and some may need to come every six months. An annual visit is the recognized and recommended frequency in the ophthalmic field.

As you can understand, this is a medical topic. Since an ocularist is not a doctor, we will obviously do everything possible with the ocular prosthesis to improve your comfort and aesthetics to avoid surgery.

However, our expertise allows us to guide you to the appropriate specialist. In most cases, this specialist is an oculoplastic ophthalmologist. When they deem it possible, these specialists can, among other things, correct drooping eyelids, restore the "hollow" of the upper orbit, and—exceptionally—replace the existing orbital implant.

There are few oculoplastic ophthalmologists, and they are generally found in major urban centers such as Montreal and Quebec City, usually affiliated with university hospital centers. The costs incurred for meeting these specialists, as well as surgical procedures, are generally covered by the Régie d’Assurance Maladie du Québec (RAMQ), with some exceptions.

Contact us regarding this; a free consultation at our office will guide you through this process.

In our clinics, you will usually have your appointment for a new prosthesis within the following two weeks. Depending on your schedule and availability, in the vast majority of cases, we will complete your new ocular prosthesis on the same day.

Fabrication takes place in three stages, with breaks of about an hour between each. The day begins at 9:00 or 9:30 AM. The first step consists of taking measurements, making an impression of the orbit, and reproducing the iris.

The second step is the reproduction of the "sclera" (the "white" of the eye) and touch-ups on the iris. The third step is the fitting of the ocular prosthesis, evaluating comfort and aesthetics, making necessary adjustments, and the final polishing.

Usually, the day ends between 3:00 and 5:00 PM, and you leave with your new prosthesis. We return your old one to you in a practical, sturdy plastic container.

Yes, we guarantee your new prosthesis for a full year at no additional cost, even if your orbit changes naturally. However, for young children, there may be additional costs because several changes occur in the orbit during a child's growth phase, requiring more regular follow-up.

This follow-up aims to promote facial symmetry as much as possible in synergy with the growth of orbital tissues. Each case will be discussed individually with the parents.

No, we offer only one quality: the one guaranteed by an ocularist certified since 1993. However, there are two types of ocular prostheses offered at different prices: the regular type of prosthesis (enucleated or eviscerated eye) and the "corneo-scleral shell," which covers an eye that is atrophied, decentered, discolored, or without useful vision.

The "shell" type ocular prosthesis is slightly more expensive. It is more difficult to manufacture, as it is usually very thin.

This type of prosthesis requires expertise and experience to achieve the desired results, as it is made for an "eye" that is still present and therefore more sensitive.

Furthermore, it is strongly recommended to manufacture a custom "trial shell" using a clear plastic impression, especially for the first ocular prosthesis a patient will wear.

Yes, the RAMQ partially covers the costs of manufacturing and maintaining ocular prostheses. The ocular prosthesis program has been in place since 1981 and was updated in April 2023. All Quebec residents with a valid RAMQ card now receive significant coverage, as since 2023, the portion the patient must pay ranges from 25% to 45% of the total cost of a prosthesis, depending on the patient’s situation and the type of ocular prosthesis required.

Importantly, depending on the patient’s circumstances, after an incident causing the loss of an eye or loss of vision in an eye, various organizations may partially or fully cover the costs of manufacturing and maintaining an ocular prosthesis. For example, after a workplace accident, the CNESST (formerly CSST) will cover all expenses incurred due to the accident at your workplace. Another example is for road accident victims: the SAAQ (Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec) will cover the portion the patient is responsible for, that is, the part not covered by RAMQ. Of course, a decision must be made by the relevant organizations to determine if the applicant is eligible, based on a review of their file for this type of medical device.

There are also other situations for Quebec residents with a valid RAMQ card, as noted above, that allow for flat-rate coverage for the manufacturing and maintenance of an ocular prosthesis. Contact us for more information regarding your specific situation.

Yes, in most cases, it is possible to modify, adjust, enlarge, or repair an ocular prosthesis until it is about four years old, and sometimes even a bit longer. However, each situation must be evaluated on an individual basis; sometimes, we are unable to make these kinds of modifications due to early deterioration of the plastic or significant changes in the orbit.

Rarely, the iris or sclera of the natural eye may change "color." This can be due to taking medication or following surgery or therapeutic intervention on the natural eye (glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, corneal implant, cataracts, etc.). If such a situation arises, we can still modify the color of the existing prosthesis, always taking into account the general condition of the "artificial eye."