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Utilizing 3D Printing Technology to Create Prosthetic Irises: Proof of Concept and Workflow
Alisa J Prager1, Nathaniel Henning2,3, Lauren Burns2,3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 25, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a 3D printing workflow for custom prosthetic irises. This method uses silicone inks to create cosmetically matched artificial irises for aniridia patients, offering a potential new treatment.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biomaterials Science
- 3D Printing Technology
Background:
- Limited treatment options exist for aniridia, impacting patients' quality of life.
- 3D printed iris implants offer a potential cost-effective and cosmetically superior alternative.
- Developing aesthetically matched prosthetic irises is crucial for patient acceptance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a proof-of-concept workflow for manufacturing 3D printed iris implants.
- To create a silicone ink palette that aesthetically matches various iris shades.
- To utilize slit lamp images for accurate iris color identification.
Main Methods:
- Iris color analysis using k-means binning on slit lamp images from healthy volunteers.
- Development of candidate silicone inks through precise pigment combination.
- Crowdsourcing survey to match silicone inks with prominent iris colors.
Main Results:
- 54 candidate silicone inks (20 brown, 16 green, 18 blue) were developed.
- Prototype artificial irises in brown, blue, and green were successfully printed.
- Printed irises matched prominent colors from slit lamp images with aesthetic accuracy.
Conclusions:
- A proof-of-concept workflow successfully produced color-matched, 3D printed silicone prosthetic irises.
- The workflow utilizes prominent iris colors extracted from slit lamp images.
- Future research will focus on intricate iris designs and biocompatibility testing.
