Science & Medicine

Prosthetic eyes seen as family trade

In his Tarzana office, John Stolpe, a third-generation ocularist, holds one of many prostheses he makes for patients who have lost eyes or suffered eye damage. His grandfather was on a team of Army doctors who developed fake eyes during World War II.

In his Tarzana office, John Stolpe, a third-generation ocularist, holds one of many prostheses he makes for patients who have lost eyes or suffered eye damage. His grandfather was on a team of Army doctors who developed fake eyes during World War II.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Ocularists blend art and science to make prosthetic eyes. The only real way to learn the trade is to apprentice yourself to another ocularist, if you can find one willing to train you. Most opt to keep their secrets within their families.

Inventory of eyes

A collection of old artificial eyes in Stolpe’s office in Tarzana. He’s working on techniques to make eyes designed for affordability and widespread access.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Molds for eyes

Stolpe watches as his father, John C. Stolpe, a retired research engineer, works on creating molds in the development of digital technology at Advanced Artificial Eyes in Tarzana.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Color matching

Stolpe displays a tray of color-matched irises for use in prosthetic eyes.   (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Eye in the making

Stolpe holds a finished prosthetic eye next to a eye in the process of being molded.   (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Generations of eyes

A collection of orbital eye implants used from the early 1940s to the 1990s.   (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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