Free ocular prosthetics: how to get assistance after injury
Military personnel and civilians who have sustained eye injuries as a result of the war can undergo free examination, treatment, and ocular prosthetics. This assistance is paid for by the state within the framework of the Medical Guarantees Program. We explain which institutions to contact and how to receive this service free of charge.
Explosions, shrapnel, and gunshot wounds can lead to severe eye injuries. If an eye is damaged and has to be removed, the patient can be fitted with an ocular prosthesis, which helps restore appearance and facilitates a person's return to everyday life.
Currently, in Ukraine, 29 regional and 9 extraterritorial medical institutions have been designated to provide free ophthalmological care to war victims. Regional hospitals provide care locally, while extraterritorial ones accept complex cases from all over the country, regardless of the patient's place of residence. In the first half of 2026 alone, patients were fitted with about 300 ocular prostheses.
You can undergo free ocular prosthetics at facilities designated by МОЗ that have a contract with the National Health Service of Ukraine for the relevant package of medical services.
To receive planned care, you need to contact your family doctor or attending physician and obtain an electronic referral to an ophthalmologist. The specialist will conduct a consultation, prescribe necessary examinations, and determine the need for prosthetics.
In the event of emergency hospitalization due to a wound or severe eye injury, a referral is not required. Specialized care is provided immediately in the hospital. After the patient's condition stabilizes, doctors determine the further stages of treatment and prosthetics.
The installation of the prosthesis takes place gradually, taking healing into account:
1. Surgery and preparation for prosthetics. During the removal of the eyeball, an orbital implant is installed, which replaces the volume of the removed eye. At the end of the surgery, a conformer is installed, which is a temporary overlay that preserves the space under the eyelids, maintains their shape, and creates conditions for proper healing.
2. Healing and fitting of a standard prosthesis. Postoperative healing takes approximately one to two months. When the condition of the tissues allows, a standard ocular prosthesis is selected and fitted for the patient. The specific timeframe is determined by the ophthalmologist.
3. Individual prosthetics. An individual prosthesis is made after complete healing of the wound and the formation of the supporting element, taking into account the anatomical features of the patient.
If a patient is denied a free service, it is necessary to contact the hospital administration. If the issue is not resolved, contact the НСЗУ contact center at 16-77.
