Artificial eyes have been in use since Roman and Egyptian times, the first false eyes were made from cloth or painted clay that were worn outside the body.

It was not until the sixteenth century that glass eyes were first crafted to fit the eye socket by glassmakers in Venice, the then centre of glass making in Europe, eventually moving to centres in France and Germany.

It was only after the Second World War that the manufacturing processes changed. It was discovered that pilots and aircrew were not showing any adverse effects form Perspex embedded in their eyes, as a result of combat. Since this discovery Artificial eyes and Scleral lenses are manufactured from plastics.

George Nissel & Co first established themselves as Artificial Eye makers in Baker Street, London, in 1946, using a unique dry heat curing system and using a dedicated team of skilled artists to produce the finest Artificial eyes that have been sold all over the world and in the process becoming the largest Artificial eye manufactures in the world. G. Nissel & Co joined forces to become Cantor & Nissel Ltd in 2000.

Within the UK and America, artificial eyes are supplied and fitted by Ocularists.