The Germans brought the art of glass blowing artificial eyes to the United States in 1851. Due to the onset of World War II, Germany stopped shipping the glass rods needed to fabricate a glass artificial eye. This prompted Army dental technicians to develop an acrylic eye which came into use in the 1940 s and is still used today.
Many problems arouse with the use of glass eyes.
They may not be impression fitted, which would hinder the motility compared to the prosthetic eyes of today. Also adjusting was a major problem and could only be done up to 48 hours after the initial fit. The body acids would attack the glass, causing it to explode when heated. The final drawback to the glass eyes is the lack of longevity. They were recommended to be replaced every one to two years.