3D printed adjustable eyewear – primarily invented for children with ear and facial abnormalities that make it impossible to wear standard glasses – could be used to reach children with eye abnormalities living in remote areas.
A study has evaluated the use of 3D printed Omni Glasses, to correct refractive errors in four children with either amblyopia or strabismus, living in Ensenada, Mexico.
The University of California found that the glasses significantly improved vision and were well received.1 When the children and their parents were asked to rate their experience on a five point scale (one = poor; five = excellent), their average rating was 4.75.1
“We hope that our findings highlight these glasses as a highly adaptable and cost-effective solution for addressing a wide range of conditions, including amblyopia, strabismus, and various craniofacial abnormalities in patient populations with limited access to optical and ocular healthcare,” said researcher Aidin Spina of the University of California.
Lightweight, customisable on-the-fly, and made for as little as US$1, 3D-printed glasses could potentially help meet the global need for eyeglasses.
The results were presented to AAO 2024, the 128th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in October.
Globally, an estimated 12.8 million children aged five to 15 years have vision impairment due to refractive errors. Lightweight, customisable on-the-fly, and made for as little as US$1, 3D-printed glasses could potentially help meet the global need for eyeglasses.
Reference
- American Academy of Ophthalmology, 3D printed eyeglasses help save children’s sight in remote, underserved communities (news release, 20 Oct 2024) available at: aao.org/newsroom/news-releases/detail/3d-printed-eyeglasses-help-save-childrens-sight [accessed 20 Oct 2024].
