How long have artificial eyes been around?
There have been artificial eyes found in tombs from as far back as 2900-2800 B.C. The current method of manufacturing artificial eyes has been in practice since World War II. Prior to the War, artificial eyes were made from glass, giving rise to the term "glass eye." The glass, however, came from Germany, and during the war, it was impossible to import the glass, so Ocularists needed to develop an alternative method. They began using the plastic that is still used today during World War II.