Progress in the application of 3D printing technology in ophthalmology

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) technology is a rapid prototyping technology that is widely used in the medical field. It can be combined with computer-aided design, material manufacturing, and other technologies to construct medical-related appliances, human implants and even cell-based models or biological tissues. In the field of ophthalmology, the technology can be used to manufacture ocular anatomical models, glasses, intraocular implants, microsurgical instruments, drugs, etc. It can also enable future ‘bioprinting’, involving the refractive and nervous systems of the eyeball, with excellent development prospects in the field. This review introduces the development of 3DP technology in ophthalmology and discusses its application and potential.