LONDON: A British man became the first patient in the world to be fitted with a 3D printed eye at the Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.
Steve Verze, 47, is an engineer from Hackney, East London. He received the left eye which is the first fully digital prosthetic eye created for a patient. It is by far more realistic in comparison to other alternatives and is designed to offer “clearer definition and real depth to the pupil”, according to the hospital.
“I’ve needed a prosthetic eye since I was 20, and I’ve always felt self-conscious about it,” said Verze. “When I leave my home, I often take a second glance in the mirror, and I’ve not liked what I’ve seen. This new eye looks fantastic and, being based on 3D digital printing technology, it’s only going to be better and better.”
The procedure of fitting a traditional prosthetic eye would require a mold to be taken of the eye socket, but a digitally printed one just needs a digital scan of the eye socket to create a detailed image.
The Moorfields Eye Hospital The hospital describes the 3D printed eye as “a true biomimic,” a more realistic prosthetic featuring clearer definition and real depth to the pupil. It said the procedure was less invasive and would take half the time it would take for a traditional prosthetic eye to be fitted in, from six weeks to just two or three.
Verze got fitted for his new eye earlier this month and went home with it on Thanksgiving. Clinical trials on this achievement are starting soon involving more patients.
Professor Mandeep Sagoo, clinical lead for the project at Moorfields Eye Hospital and professor of ophthalmology and ocular oncology hoped that the “forthcoming clinical trial will provide us with robust evidence about the value of this new technology, show ing what a difference it makes for patients.”
“We are excited about the potential for this fully digital prosthetic eye,” said Professor Mandeep Sagoo. “It clearly has the potential to reduce waiting lists.”
