Ocular prosthesis in archival photo (Getty)
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November 26, 2021 Implanted in England, for the first time in the world, a fully digital 3D printed prosthetic eye. The surgery was performed at London's Moorfields Eye Hospital.
The patient, Steve Verze, is a 47-year-old engineer: "I've needed an ocular prosthesis since I was 20 and I've always felt uncomfortable," Verze said. "This new eye looks great."
Compared to the traditional acrylic prosthesis, the 3D printed ocular prosthesis is more realistic and defined, and gives the perception of the real depth of the pupil. In addition, unlike traditional methods, instead of making an invasive impression, digital scans of the eye socket and the functioning eye are performed.
The speed of the production process, the hospital points out, is also an element that could favor the use of 3D printed ocular prostheses.
"Traditional acrylic prosthetic eyes are hand painted and take about six weeks to complete. With 3D printing, once scanned, the prosthesis can be printed within two and a half hours. It is then sent to an eye doctor to be refinished. , polished and adapted. The whole process takes only two or three weeks. "
"We are excited about the potential of this fully digital prosthetic eye," says Professor Mandeep Sagoo, eye care consultant at Moorfields Eye Hospital.
"The hope is that the upcoming clinical trial will provide solid evidence on the value of this new technology, showing the difference it makes to patients and its usefulness in reducing waiting lists."