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3D printing in ophthalmology: From basic research to clinical transformation
Zhuotong Wu1, Yong Ma1, Liyin Wang1
1Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China; Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Laser and Autostereoscopic 3D for Vision Care, China.
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is revolutionizing ophthalmic treatments by enabling customized biomaterials and tissue engineering for eye diseases. This review details 3D printing methods and their applications in ocular health, offering a roadmap for clinical translation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmic biomaterials engineering
- Biomedical engineering
- Tissue engineering
Background:
- Ophthalmic diseases impact millions globally, with traditional treatments often showing limited efficacy due to ocular biological barriers.
- Three-dimensional (3D) printing presents a transformative approach for creating patient-specific, structurally precise biomaterials for ophthalmic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and classify ophthalmic 3D printing strategies, including extrusion-based, inkjet-based, electric field-assisted, and light-assisted methods.
- To clarify the distinction between acellular material inks and cell-laden bioinks in ophthalmic 3D printing.
- To provide a roadmap for translating basic 3D printing research into clinically meaningful ophthalmic therapies.
Main Methods:
- Classification of ophthalmic 3D printing approaches (extrusion, inkjet, electric field-assisted, light-assisted).
- Summary of factors influencing ink formulation and application (spatial resolution, optical transparency, mechanical stiffness, degradation, sterilization, immune response, regulatory classification).
- Discussion of emerging strategies like hybrid printing and AI-assisted process control.
Main Results:
- 3D printing enables the engineering of delicate eye tissues (cornea, conjunctiva, retina) and novel drug delivery systems (microneedles, smart contact lenses).
- Key parameters like ink formulation and material properties significantly influence the success of ophthalmic 3D printing applications.
- Emerging techniques like dynamic bioprinting and AI integration promise enhanced personalization, reproducibility, and quality assurance.
Conclusions:
- Matching printing strategies to ocular-specific requirements is crucial for clinical value, beyond mere printing capability.
- This review bridges biomaterial design and clinical ophthalmology, offering a path toward personalized vision therapies.
- Addressing limitations and clinical translation barriers is essential for advancing ophthalmic 3D printing.
