Custom-made artificial eyes using 3D printing for dogs: A preliminary study

Abstract

Various incurable eye diseases in companion animals often result in phthisis bulbi and eye removal surgery. Currently, the evisceration method using silicone balls is useful in animals; however, it is not available to those with impaired cornea or severe ocular atrophy. Moreover, ocular implant and prostheses are not widely used because of the diversity in animal size and eye shape, and high manufacturing cost. Here, we produced low-cost and customized artificial eyes, including implant and prosthesis, using computer-aided design and three-dimensional (3D) printing technique. For 3D modeling, the size of the artificial eyes was optimized using B-mode ultrasonography. The design was exported to STL files, and then printed using polycaprolactone (PCL) for prosthesis and mixture of PCL and hydroxyapatite (HA) for ocular implant. The 3D printed artificial eyes could be produced in less than one and half hour. The prosthesis was painted using oil colors and biocompatible resin. Two types of eye removal surgery, including evisceration and enucleation, were performed using two beagle dogs, as a preliminary study. After the surgery, the dogs were clinically evaluated for 6 months and then histopathological evaluation of the implant was done. Ocular implant was biocompatible and host tissue ingrowth was induced after in vivo application. The custom-made prosthesis was cosmetically excellent. Although long-term clinical follow-up might be required, the use of 3D printed-customized artificial eyes may be beneficial for animals that need personalized artificial eye surgery.

Expression of Concern: Custom-made artificial eyes using 3D printing for dogs: A preliminary study

“…After this article [ 1 ] was published, concerns were raised about whether the study meets internationally accepted standards of animal research ethics, as is required per PLOS ONE ’s Editorial Policy. Specifically, questions were raised as to whether the implants and prosthetics evaluated in the study would offer clinical benefits for dogs as compared to conventional eye removal procedures, so as to justify the reported research.…”

“…The ethics statement in [ 1 ] reports that the animal experiments were approved by the Chungbuk National University Animal Care and Use Committees (Number: CBNUA-1155-18-01) of Laboratory Animal Research Center at Chungbuk National University (Cheongju, Korea). The article did not discuss the above issues which have implications for adherence of the study to PLOS ONE ’s policies on animal research ethics.…”

Correction to Expression of Concern: Custom-made artificial eyes using 3D printing for dogs: A preliminary study

“…Based on the outcome of our editorial assessment and input received from the experts consulted in this case, the concerns noted in [ 1 ] about the scientific justification for the study, the small sample size, and support for the article’s conclusions have been dismissed. Regarding the scientific justification, a consulted expert advised that this was a pilot study to demonstrate proof-of-concept, that the study design was appropriate, and that as the 3D-printed implants were developed for use in animals an assessment of their in vivo tolerability was justified from a clinical, ethical, and regulatory perspective.…”

“…The authors provided the following information about analgesia and the methods used to assess animal pain, thereby resolving the reporting concern noted in the Expression of Concern (“ The methods used to assess animal pain were not clearly reported ”) [ 1 ].…”

Điểm tin RW Weekend Read ngày 16-1-2021

“…Tuy nhiên, ban biên tập tạp chí đã từ chối yêu cầu này [3] • Tạp chí PLoS ONE ra cảnh báo với một bài nghiên cứu của các tác giả Hàn Quốc trong năm 2020 về sử dụng in 3-D để làm mắt giả cho chó. Lập luận: "Khó có thể tìm được lý do đúng đắn cho việc tiến hành các nghiên cứu loại này" [4] Tính đến hết tuần 16-1, RW cũng đã thống kê được 75 bài nghiên cứu về COVID-19 đã bị rút khỏi các ấn phẩm (xem chi tiết: https://retractionwatch.com/retracted-coronavirus-covid-19-papers/).…”