Printed eyeglass lenses

3D printed frames are now available from opticians. However, plastic lenses are still produced using conventional casting methods or special free-form technologies using high-precision grinding processes.

In cooperation with the Fraunhofer IOF and Fraunhofer IAP, CeSMA has developed 3D printable materials that can be used for the production of plastic eyeglass lenses. The homogeneity of the plastic plays an extremely important role in achieving the required transparency. 3D printable materials for anti-scratch coating can also be applied. As with conventional plastic glasses, the refractive index plays a key role here, especially if the glass thickness is to be kept low. A particular challenge in the production of eyeglass lenses using 3D printing is the requirement that both the front and the back are optically deformed, whereas conventional 3D printing works better when one plane is flat.