Dear Maaike,
Is it already possible to get a 3D-printed eye prosthesis custom-fitted? What are the eligibility requirements?
Best regards, S.
Dear S,
There are many developments both in the Netherlands and abroad in the field of 3D printing of ocular prostheses. Amsterdam UMC is conducting research on 3D printing in collaboration with Delft University of Technology. All of these developments are aimed at creating better, more comfortable, and more aesthetically pleasing ocular prostheses.
However, it is not yet possible to get a 3D-printed eye prosthesis. This is because the materials used for this purpose have not yet been certified in the Netherlands.
At ocularist Jelmer Remmers’ practice, fittings are already being done using a 3D system. This involves:
- Taking an impression of the eye socket
- Scanning the printout
- 3D Design
- 3D-Printed Fitting Model
- Duplicating a 3D try-in model into a final prosthesis that is still fabricated using traditional methods.
It is still too early to say how long it will take before people can start wearing 3D-printed ocular prostheses. We expect that the best results will be achieved if the ocularist can still make adjustments to the 3D-printed prosthetic eye. The assumption is that the combination of craftsmanship and technology will lead to the best results. However, this will only be possible once the materials used for these prosthetic eyes have been approved for use in the Netherlands.
Best regards, Maaike
Thanks to Jelmer Remmers for his input
