Design and development of model eye for retina laser by using additive manufacturing

Abstract

Surgical skill of the surgeon can be improved by surgical simulation. Especially in ophthalmology, it is impossible to use real human/non-human primate eyes for ophthalmology surgery practice. However, surgical practice is most important for ophthalmologist. The retina laser surgery is one of the ophthalmology surgeries and it requires more surgical practice for surgeons to use the laser beam precisely to coagulate and fuse small areas of tissue. Dealing with the prospect of vision reduction or vision loss presents a peculiar problem and that can be highly stressful and frustrating for both doctors and patients. In this regard, training for indirect ophthalmoscopy and retinal photocoagulation is undergone using model eyes instead of real eyes. Properties and functioning of an existing model eye are huge and they differ from real human eye such as casings are completely rigid and focusing of retinal fundus is not completely covered. Therefore, this research concentrates to develop a model eye that assimilates close to the human eye by focussing on the maximum viewing area that is not done at the moment. Finally, the design and development of re-engineered model eye for retina laser is fabricated by additive manufacturing. Compared to existing plastic model eye, viewing area and viewing angle of the re-engineered model eye is increased by 16.66% and 6.14%, respectively. Due to design modifications and elimination of the insert, it can be reduced by 18.99% and 13.95% of height and weight of the top casing respectively. Developed re-engineered model eye will improve the surgical and diagnostic skill of the surgeon and increase their confidence and proficiency. It also augments the effective use of essential ophthalmic instruments. Additionally, it can reduce the surgical error and meet the existing demand of actual eyes for surgical practices.

Redrawing vitreoretinal surgical training program in the COVID-19 era: Experiences of a tertiary care institute in North India

“…Similarly, Pugalendhi et al . [ 36 ] recently developed a plastic model eye for retina laser using additive manufacturing. Chhabra et al .…”

3D Printing in Eye Care

“…Model eyes have been printed to assess the fundus viewing range of various lenses as well as the quality of wide-angle imaging and OCT instruments [ 38 , 39 ]. Model eyes have also been printed for retinal laser training [ 40 ].…”

Commentary: Intravitreal injection of formalin as a life hack for ophthalmic wet lab training

“…Additive manufacturing or 3D printing[ 4 ] has been used to make model eyes for LASER practice[ 5 ] and surgical practice. [ 6 ] This allows designs to be made and modified collaboratively and shared across the world.…”