About – The Ocularist
Elisabelle St-Hilaire, BCO – Ocularist
Founder and Owner
Elisabelle St-Hilaire's journey to ocularism began long before her professional training. Diagnosed with retinoblastoma at the age of two, she underwent enucleation and now wears an ocular prosthesis herself. These experiences profoundly shaped her understanding of the challenges faced by patients and their families: the uncertainty, the setbacks, but also the hope of regaining a natural look and lasting comfort. This personal story guides her philosophy of care today—to offer a human-centered approach.
My journey
After completing a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa in 2017, Elisabelle began her ocularistry internship in 2019 under the tutelage of two renowned BCO ocularists, Marie-France Clermont and Isabelle Forget. During her five years of training, she treated a wide variety of patients in the Montreal and Ottawa areas, addressing a broad range of diagnoses and clinical needs. During this time, Elisabelle also distinguished herself as a committed advocate for improved access to ocular prostheses in Quebec. She actively contributed to a province-wide movement aimed at making these services affordable for everyone. This initiative led to a historic increase in government funding—almost tripling—significantly reducing costs for Quebec patients. This collective victory is among her most notable achievements. In 2022, Elisabelle completed several courses through the IAA (International Anaplastology Association) to deepen her understanding of epithesis, enabling her to design ocular prostheses tailored to patients requiring orbital restoration. In 2024, after graduating from the College of Ocularistry and passing the NEBO (National Examination Board of Ocularists) exam, Elisabelle earned her Board Certified Ocularist (BCO) certification, the highest standard of training and competence in the profession. Today, Elisabelle St-Hilaire provides personalized care in Quebec City. She also oversees patient follow-up in Manitoba as an independent contractor for Jon Brett (BCO), and collaborates with Marie-France Clermont (BCO) and Tom Dean, serving patients in the Ottawa region and across Canada.