Three-dimensional printing in ophthalmology and eye care: current applications and future developments

Three-dimensional (3D) printing uses a process of adding material in a layer-by-layer fashion to form the end product. This technology is advancing rapidly and is being increasingly utilized in the medical field as it becomes more accessible and cost-effective. It has an increasingly important role in ophthalmology and eyecare as its current and potential applications are extensive and slowly evolving. Three-dimensional printing represents an important method of manufacturing customized products such as orbital implants, ocular prostheses, ophthalmic models, surgical instruments, spectacles and other gadgets. Surgical planning, simulation, training and teaching have all benefitted from this technology. Advances in bioprinting seem to be the future direction of 3D printing with possibilities of printing out viable ocular tissues such as corneas and retinas in the future. It is expected that more ophthalmologists and other clinicians will use this technology in the near future.