| abstract |
A method of manufacturing an artificial eye for fitting as a whole or partial replacement of a patient's original eye, the method comprising the steps of a) providing 5200 a digitally acquired image of an iris; and b) transferring 5210, 5222 the image to a substrate comprising at least the frontal region of an artificial eye. The image of the iris may be colour corrected 5202, veins may be added to the sclera 5204, and the image scaled to size 5206. In one embodiment, the image is CAD modelled 5208 and the substrate may be formed as an inherent part of the transfer step by a 3D printer 5210 using silica powder, then bound using cyanoacrylate 5214. Alternatively, the image is transferred to a dye sublimation film 5218 using dye sublimation ink, then onto a bespoke substrate by vacuum transfer 5222, and lacquered 5226. Both alternatives may then be encapsulated 5216. |