A new study has recently showcased how 3D printing with stereolithography can create clear, foldable intraocular lenses, improving cataract treatment technology.

The study, published in Taylor & Francis Online, introduced an approach to intraocular lens (IOL) fabrication using stereolithography (SLA). The researchers mentioned cataracts as the leading cause of blindness globally. To replace the clouded lens with an artificial intraocular lens, they noted existing IOL manufacturing techniques, such as molding and lathing, is a “is a complex and time-consuming process that limits the development of novel materials and designs.”

To overcome the limitations, researchers developed a photopolymerizable resin composed of 2-phenoxyethyl acrylate and poly (ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate to create clear, foldable, non-refractive lens prototypes. Utilizing SLA, they produced lens-like 3D objects and assessed their transparency, thermal properties, and biocompatibility.

Using the SLA technique researchers also noted they were successful in the fabrication of transparent, foldable lenses with loop-haptic designs. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the smooth morphology of the printed devices, and UV spectroscopy verified their transparency. Researchers also noted differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated favorable thermal properties.

Biocompatibility was evaluated using a cultured human lens cell line (FHL-124), revealing that the post-cured polymer did not elicit toxic responses. Additionally, the foldability and shape recovery of the lenses were tested during injection into a human capsular bag model, “demonstrated the tolerance of lens cells,” mentioned the researchers.

“This process has the potential to contribute toward new lens development, allowing for unlimited design iterations and an expanded range of materials for scientists to explore,” they concluded.

Full disclosures can be found in the original study.