Researchers say 3D printed contact lenses could one day be made-to-order and produced in as little as 20 minutes.
The customised lenses could be designed, manufactured and dispensed during a single visit to the optometrist and transform how contact lenses are manufactured, according to a report published in Materials & Design.
Dr Shirley Tang of the University of Waterloo in Ontario, and study lead, said: “We are very excited about this work because it brings us closer to contact lenses that are truly personalised.”
“Our technology produces lenses with patient-specific surfaces for a precise fit while delivering the optical clarity and mechanical performance expected of commercial contact lenses.”
The inner surface of the lens will precisely match the patient’s cornea, and the outer surface will be shaped to provide the required vision correction, her team said.
As silicone, the conventional material used in contact lenses, is generally not compatible with 3D printing, the researchers developed a new silicone formulation.
Because 3D-printed objects are built layer by layer, tiny stair-step imperfections can form on curved surfaces and reduce optical clarity and wearer comfort. To address this issue, the team developed an ultra-thin, non-contact coating process that smoothes the surface without altering the customised shape of the lens or compromising its optical performance.
The lenses have so far been tested only in lab experiments.
The researchers have filed a provisional patent for their hydrophilic silicone material and are preparing to test the lenses in actual eyes.
The project received a Gold Medal at the Shanghai International Exhibition of Inventions in June 2026.