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Updated: Mar 22, 2026
Treatment of Facial Deformities using 3D Planning and Printing of Patient-Specific Implants
Published on: May 23, 2020
Computer-aided design and three-dimensional printing in the manufacturing of an ocular prosthesis
Sébastien Ruiters1, Yi Sun2, Stéphan de Jong1
1Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract:
Restoring the facial appearance in acquired anophthalmos entails precision fitting of a customised ocular prosthesis. The fabrication is an artisanal process, and is primarily based on an impression of the anophthalmic cavity. This is usually achieved by the impression-moulding method, which, however, may introduce errors, resulting in a poorly fitted prosthesis. We developed a new method in the manufacturing of a customised ocular prosthesis based on computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. An ocular prosthesis, based on a three-dimensional (3D) printed impression-free mould of the anophthalmic cavity, was successfully fitted in a 68-year-old male. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a customised ocular prosthesis designed with the aid of 3D printing.
Trial Registration Number:
B322201628407, Pre-results.
