AAO 2024: 3D printed eyeglasses bring vision care to children in underserved, remote communities

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Pediatric ophthalmologist Donny Suh, MD, and James Hermsen initially developed Omni Glasses, 3D-printed adjustable eyewear, for children with ear and facial abnormalities that make wearing traditional glasses difficult. Building on this innovation, their team sought to extend its reach to children in underserved regions with complex eye conditions.

The results of this expansion effort, focusing on children in Ensenada, Mexico, will be presented today at the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s 128th annual meeting in Chicago.

Refractive errors remain one of the leading causes of vision impairment in children worldwide, with an estimated 12.8 million children aged 5 to 15 affected. The 3D-printed glasses, which are lightweight, customizable, and cost as little as $1 to produce, have the potential to address this global need for affordable eyewear.

According to a news release, in this study, four children from Ensenada with amblyopia or strabismus were selected to receive 3D-printed glasses. Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, assessed the ability of the glasses to correct refractive errors and surveyed both the children and their parents to evaluate satisfaction.

Results showed significant improvement in vision, with the spherical equivalent improving from -3.06 ± 2.48 to -0.13 ± 1.69 and the cylinder from -4.23 ± 1.75 to -3.85 ± 1.20. Both children and their parents rated their experience with the glasses highly, with an average score of 4.75 out of 5 (1 = poor, 5 = excellent).

“We hope these findings underscore the adaptability and cost-effectiveness of 3D-printed glasses in addressing a variety of conditions, including amblyopia, strabismus, and craniofacial abnormalities, particularly in regions with limited access to optical care,” sresearcher Aidin Spina from the University of California, Irvine, said in the news release.