OK folks. I was able to create a prop of an eye (using grouping tool).

1. Then saved the eye prop.
2. Brought the prop into a LF scene.
3. Then hide the corresponding eye in LF.
4. Parent the eye prop to the corresponding eye in order to get the correct movement for the prop.
5. Can apply any material to the prop.

The only thing you can't do is resize the iris or pupil. I suppose this can be done before creating the prop.

Here's a quick render of the results. It is the right eye that is the prop.

Until something better can be figured out, this should suffice in a pinch.