File Print Optical Lenses

Background: Three dimensional, or 3D, printing continues to grow as an innovative
plastics manufacturing process, with customizability and convenience as strong points.
3D printed ophthalmic frames have been created recently, but development of printed
optical lenses has seen less progress. The purpose of this research is to explore the
process of designing and printing an optical lens, and analysing its optical parameters
and quality.
Methods: The goal of this project is to design a lens in a 3D modeling program, and have that lens printed in a suitable material for ophthalmic use. Printed lenses will be quantitatively and qualitatively compared to CR-39 lenses of the same power. Lens powers compared will include: plano, +2.00, +5.00, +10.00, -2.00, -5.00 and -10.00. Results: Test parameters for each lens will include: a qualitative investigation of overall quality (with potential aid from an arc lamp as well as an MTF grid), analysis of quality using the Rotlex© Class Plus lens analyser, lensometer power verification as well as mire quality determination.
Conclusions: Admittedly, the quality of lenses produced from 3D printing will not be superior to traditional lens techniques. Therefore, current applications may include use as temporary lenses for patients to trial prism or a unique spectacle Rx. However, the clinical impacts of this research may be more applicable in the near future as printing resolution and quality increases, and use as everyday ophthalmic lenses may become a reality.