Fraunhofer IGD 3D printing process – The artificial right eye, shown in the picture on the left
Use of the Fraunhofer IGD solution at Moorfields Eye Hospital
Hope for hundreds of thousands of people in Europe: Eye prostheses can be produced using 3D printing in a reproducibly high quality and with less effort than before. The Fraunhofer IGD supports ocularists in their work with software and a printer driver. More than 200 patients are already benefiting from the new technology. The researchers present their methodology and current results in a publication that appeared in the scientific journal Nature Communications and is now available to anyone interested.
In 2021, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Graphical Data Processing IGD presented their technologies for the first time – since then, 3D printing has revolutionized the production of eye prostheses at the renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. “With optimally adapted artificial eyes, the quality of life of those affected increases enormously,” explains Johann Reinhard, deputy department head of the 3D printing technology competence center. With their scanning and 3D printing process, the researchers ensure that the prosthesis not only fits the existing second eye perfectly, but also fits into the eye socket in the best possible way. Fraunhofer IGD supports ocularists with the Cuttlefish:Eye software and the Cuttlefish® printer driver. The software has so far been approved as a medical product in Great Britain and will also be used on mainland Europe in the future.
Eye prostheses impress patients and ocularists
The publication describes the technology behind the Cuttlefish:Eye software and the quality of the eye prostheses created with it. To do this, the researchers examined two aspects using ten patients: the appearance and shape of the eye prostheses. The former term includes the size and color of the iris and pupil as well as the texture of the sclera. The ocularists surveyed consistently rated these points as excellent. “Patients describe the 3D printed eye prostheses as life-changing,” adds Reinhard. In terms of shape, looking at the ten cases, it became clear for which types of patients the eye prostheses are better and for which they are less suitable. Among other things, the necessary adjustments as well as the final viewing direction and mobility of the prosthesis were examined.
In addition to the consistently high quality achieved through automation, 3D printing brings another advantage: shortened production times. Because the time required for the eyepiece technicians is up to five times less, the costs can also be significantly reduced – depending on the number of pieces. “What is much more important, however, is that more patients can be treated and their waiting time for a new prosthesis can be shortened,” explains Reinhard. Eye prostheses are usually necessary after serious injuries or illnesses – around 750,000 people in Europe are affected by them.
Gentle procedure
The digital measuring and production process is also particularly gentle on patients: using optical coherence tomography OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography), a scan of both the eye socket and the healthy eye is created, and an integrated camera provides a color-calibrated image. The previously common alginate impression of the eye socket is no longer necessary. Cuttlefish:Eye uses a statistical shape model to predict the best-fitting prosthetic shape despite incomplete eye socket surface information. In just a few minutes, a precisely fitting 3D model of the eye prosthesis is calculated from the OCT data, which visually matches the healthy eye. Production takes place on a multi-material 3D printer, which is controlled via the 3D printer driver Cuttlefish®. The prostheses are manufactured and sold by Ocupeye Ltd.
The researchers are also transferring their expertise in the field of 3D printing in color and their experience with Cuttlefish:Eye to other subject areas: in the future, dental restorations and epitheses will also be designed using software and produced with the tried and tested Cuttlefish® printer driver.
Additional information:
More about Fraunhofer IGD’s research in ophthalmology:
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About Fraunhofer IGD:
The Fraunhofer Institute for Graphical Data Processing IGD has been setting standards in visual computing, image- and model-based computer science, for over 30 years. Fraunhofer IGD’s approximately 210 employees support companies and institutions in the automotive, health and care, bioeconomy and infrastructure, software and IT industries, maritime industries, and cultural and creative industries. Fraunhofer IGD offers concrete technological solutions and helps with strategic development. The researchers carry out data analysis, design software and hardware systems, develop prototypes and realize and implement visual-interactive systems. The focus is on human-machine interaction, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, interactive simulation, modeling as well as 3D printing and 3D scanning. Fraunhofer IGD has been conducting cutting-edge research since 1987 and supports social and economic change with application-oriented solutions at its three locations in Darmstadt, Rostock and Kiel. Its products gain international relevance through collaboration with the Austrian sister institute in Graz and Klagenfurt as well as participation in a wide range of EU projects.
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Fraunhofer Institute for Graphical Data Processing IGD
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