Fraunhofer IGD technology for ophthalmology at Moorfields Hospital

Fraunhofer IGD is deploying its cutting-edge technology to manufacture prosthetic eyes using 3D printing at Moorfields Hospital in London, revolutionizing the industry. Thanks to this innovation, more than 200 patients now benefit from prostheses that are adjusted and aesthetically similar to the healthy eye. These results were published in the journal Nature Communications.

The Fraunhofer IGD team provides ocularists with the Cuttlefish:Eye software and the Cuttlefish® print driver, essential tools for using this technology. This promises not only a significant reduction in manual labor but also high-quality production in a reproducible manner. With around 750,000 people affected in Europe, this progress offers new hope.

The production method, less invasive for patients and significantly faster thanks to the automation of 3D printing, is already approved as a medical device in the United Kingdom. It is also preparing to be introduced on the European continent. Continuing this research could also benefit other areas, such as dental restorations and facial prosthetics.