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If you have irregularly shaped corneas or a difficult vision condition Contact lenses — such as severe nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism — you know that finding the right fit can take weeks of trial and error. That could all change with 3D printed contact lenses that take less than 20 minutes to produce.
A press release Reports published on Tuesday Researchers in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, has developed a contact lens system that uses custom software to digitally map each patient’s cornea, the clear, dome-shaped outer layer that covers the front of the eye.
Instead of relying on pre-manufactured lenses in specific sizes, the platform will create custom lenses that match the shape and size of your cornea with a fast production time – allowing clinics to design, print and distribute custom lenses in a single visit. The team also invented and provisionally patented a 3D-printable silicone designed for patient safety.
“Our goal is for the printed lenses to perform equivalent to current commercial contact lenses in terms of surface properties, including smoothness to prevent wear, stability under standard cleaning and storage conditions, and oxygen permeability.” Shirley TangOne of the researchers who conducted the study told CNET via email.
How the 3D printed contact lens system works
Contact lenses are usually made of silicone, but this material will not work with contact lenses 3D printer. Waterloo researchers have created a hydrophilic (also known as hydrophilic) silicone formulation that works with a DLP (digital light processing) 3D printer and does not affect safety or oxygen flow.
According to A Research article Corneal lens geometry was published by the Waterloo team in June, using algorithms that then produce thickness maps for 3D printing.
“Our program designs a lens with an inner surface that precisely matches the patient’s cornea and an outer surface that provides the desired vision correction,” he said. Sayan Gangulya research associate in chemistry at the University of Waterloo, said in the press release.
What results are custom prescription contact lenses.
Because 3D printing builds objects layer by layer, it can lead to imperfections on curved surfaces, such as contact lenses, resulting in discomfort and reduced clarity. The researchers overcame this obstacle by designing a thin layer that smoothes surface imperfections while maintaining shape and clarity.
A laboratory worker displays a 3D-printed contact lens at the Tang Nanotechnology Laboratory at the University of Waterloo.
Ideal patients for these 3D printed lenses
This 3D printing technology produces only rigid contact lenses, which Tang said is typically ideal for individuals whose vision cannot be adequately corrected with soft lenses. This can include people with irregular corneas (such as keratoconus), high or irregular astigmatism, corneal scarring, or complications after eye surgery.
“Because these conditions vary greatly from person to person, scleral/rigid contact lenses should be individually fitted by qualified optometrists to ensure optimal vision, comfort and eye health,” Tang said.
Your eye doctor can determine if you need hard contact lenses instead of soft lenses.
Testing and future marketing
During laboratory tests on human corneal epithelial cells, the team confirmed that the 3D-printed contact lenses are safe to use without causing harm, but they are preparing to conduct additional studies and commercialize the product later.
According to Tang, the Waterloo team believes their technology will make custom-made scleral contact lenses less expensive. Today, the cost of these commercial lenses ranges from $500 to $1,500, including professional fitting, follow-up appointments, and the lenses themselves.
“We envision that our technology can help democratize access to scleral contact lenses by reducing their cost and simplifying the fitting process,” Tang said.
