The first ocular implant made of hydroxyapatite was implanted in 1985, after several years of preliminary research. The eye muscles can be attached directly to this implant, allowing it to move within the orbit-just like the natural eye.

Some of this movement is automatically transferred to the artificial eye, which fits over the implant. If greater movement is desired, then a titanium peg is used to connect the artificial eye to the implant. In this way, even the small, darting movements of the natural eye can be delivered directly to the artificial eye.

The result is a more natural-looking artificial eye that can be difficult to distinguish from the natural eye.