Supporting British Industry & Craftsmanship
The last glass eye maker in the UK, Ocularist, Jost Haas makes glass prosthetics by hand, from his front room in North London.
As a glass-blower from Germany, Haas came to the UK to take over a practice from another German ocularist. Patients are referred to him from Moorfields Eye Hospital and A&E departments. They sit with him for up to three hours, during which time Haas crafts their new prosthesis - a perfect fit and colour match - to the other eye. Providing a service more than running a business, and with respect to his dying skill, Haas inspires great loyalty in his patients, who return every few years and often travel long distances, even though plastic prosthetic eyes tend to be more usual now.
"I have visited Jost a number of times and each visit I leave astounded that Jost is still working at the top of his game, in his late eighties. He feels a real sense of loyalty to his patients and knows they can't get the same service anywhere else. I think he enjoys hearing their stories and news as they come back time and time again to see him and get replacement eyes. The glass eyes themselves are real works of art and beautiful objects - he gave me one to take home and show the kids." Carmel King photographed Jost Haas initially in September 2019 for a photostory commissioned by the Wellcome Collection.
