Artificial eyes and facial prosthetics
Get help paying for artificial eyes and facial prosthetics.
Who qualifies
To qualify, you must:
- be an Ontario resident
- have a valid Ontario health card
- have a long-term physical disability requiring an artificial eye(s) or a facial prosthetic(s)
We do not consider your income.
Who does not qualify
You do not qualify, if:
- you already qualify for or are receiving financial support from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board for the same artificial eye(s) or facial prosthetic(s)
- you are a Group “A” veteran and already qualify for, or are receiving, financial support from Veterans Affairs Canada for the same artificial eye(s) or facial prosthetic(s)
Artificial eyes
You may have lost an eye, or have suffered permanent damage to it, due to a disease or injury that is not work-related.
Through the Assistive Devices Program, we help cover the cost of artificial eyes (also called ocular prostheses).
This includes:
- customized artificial eye(s)
- customized artificial eye(s) for porous implant
- an implant with openings throughout to allow fibrous tissue growth
- customized scleral lens
- the sclera is the white outermost layer of the eyeball
Devices covered
We also cover some related devices, including:
- scleral trial shells
- custom conformers used to hold the shape of the eye socket after surgery
- templates (such as a duplicate of the conformer in wax)
- titanium pegs to secure the artificial eye and aid natural movement
Procedures covered
You can also apply for help covering the costs of the following procedures:
- making artificial eye(s)
- coupling procedure for porous implant
- making of scleral lens
- therapeutic build-up
- reduction
- retouching veins and colour
- impression of orbital cavity taken under anaesthesia
- reglazing
Replacing artificial eyes
You can apply to replace artificial eyes and related devices if either:
- the size of your eye-socket has changed due to growth or atrophy
- your medical condition has changed
- there has been normal wear to your artificial eye(s), and they are no longer under warranty
We do not cover costs to replace a lost artificial eye or repair artificial eyes damaged through misuse.
What is not covered
The ADP does not cover:
- a second artificial eye for the same side if the original one still works
- prosthetic implants using hydroxyapatite and attachment posts
- repairs to artificial eyes, conformers and scleral lens prosthetics (damage from misuse is your responsibility)
- artificial eyes made by businesses outside Ontario or who are not registered with the ADP
How much is covered for artificial eyes
If you qualify, and your application is approved, we will pay 75% of the cost of your artificial eye(s) or related prosthetics directly to the business selling you the device(s). You are responsible for paying the remaining 25% of the cost.
Apply for artificial eyes
Follow these 3 steps to apply:
Get examined by your family doctor, or an ophthalmologist or optometrist. The examination will confirm whether you need an artificial eye or not.
The doctor will fill out their part of the application form and refer you to an ocularist registered with the Assistive Devices Program.
- Meet with the ADP registered ocularist, who will confirm the type of artificial eye(s) you need and fit you for them. The ocularist is also the one who makes your artificial eye(s).
- Arrange a date and time to receive the artificial eye(s). The ocularist will complete the application form and submit it to us on your behalf.
Facial prosthetics
You may need facial prosthetics due to a congenital condition, disease or injury (outside of work).
Through the ADP, we help cover the cost of:
- extraoral facial prosthetics (such as artificial noses, ears, eye sockets)
- intraoral facial prosthetics (such as palatal lifts, mandibular, or jawbone, extensions)
Replacing facial prosthetics
You can apply to replace intraoral and extraoral prosthetics originally purchased through the ADP.
You must need a replacement for one of the following reasons:
- change in your physical size/shape due to growth or atrophy
- change in your medical condition
- deterioration of the prosthetic jeopardizes your health
We do not cover costs to replace a lost prosthetic or repair prosthetics damaged through misuse.
Facial prosthetics not covered
The ADP does not cover some facial prosthetics, such as:
- a second prosthetic for the same part of the face (extraoral) or for the same site in the mouth (intraoral)
- implants
- dentures
- oral splints for temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
- prosthetics made by businesses outside Ontario or who are not registered with the ADP
Procedures covered for intraoral prosthetics
You can also apply to get the following procedures covered for intraoral prosthetics:
- relining
- tissue conditioning (re-establishing tone and health to irritated tissue)
- adjustments (reduction or build-up of prosthetic)
How much is covered for facial prosthetics
If you qualify, and your application is approved, we will pay 75% of the cost of your facial prosthetic directly to the business selling you the facial prosthetic. You are responsible for paying the remaining 25% of the cost.
Apply for facial prosthetics
Follow these 5 steps to apply:
- Choose the application form you need:
- Get examined by:
- a plastic surgeon, ophthalmologist, oncologist or otolaryngologist if you need an extraoral prosthetic (such as artificial nose, ears, eye sockets)
- a dentist if you need an intraoral prosthetic
- The doctor, or dentist who examines you will fill out their part of the form and will refer you to a:
- anaplastologist, restorative prosthetist, or prosthodontist for extraoral prosthetics
- prosthodontist or dentist certified in prosthodontics for intraoral prosthetics
- Find a business that will make and sell you the prosthetic(s). The business must be registered with the ADP. Use the table below to find a registered business. Your anaplastologist, restorative prosthetist, prosthodontist, or dentist can help you.
- Meet with the business. They will complete the application form and send it to us on your behalf.
What happens next
Whether you’ve applied for an artificial eye(s) or a facial prosthetic(s), we aim to review your application within 8 weeks of receiving it.
If you order or buy these devices before we have completed our review, and your application is denied, you are responsible for the full cost.
If your application is denied, we will send you a letter explaining why and what you can do to follow up, including appealing our decision.
If your application is approved
If your application is approved, we will notify the business that you are working with.
The business will contact you to let you know of our decision, and to arrange a time for your artificial eye(s) or facial prosthetic(s) to be delivered.
When you get your artificial eye(s) or facial prosthetic(s), you must pay your share of the cost. The ADP pays the business directly for its portion.
Getting up to 100% coverage
Through the Assistive Devices Program, we cover up to 100% of the cost for artificial eyes and facial prosthetics, if you receive financial support from one of these programs: