新西兰学生Logan Williamshas invented a set of 3D printed “Polar Optics” contact lenses that have the potential to protect sufferers of photosensitive epilepsy from seizures.
Williams, who is an MSc applied psychology student from the坎特伯雷大学，在了解朋友对癫痫药物的不良副作用后，受到启发，创建了极地光学镜头，现在将努力使他的发明在市售上可用。
Polar Optics
极性光学器件是凹级的偏光隐形眼镜，折射了进入眼睛并抑制其强度的光线。光波是分级化的，遏制了它们对神经系统的影响。
Wearers are given precious seconds to close their eyes or move away from the threat before suffering a seizure. Unlike sunglasses, which only dampen the effect of direct flashing lights,极性光学镜头还通过覆盖整个角膜来保护外围视觉。
“Polar Optics mitigates environmental threats, enabling sufferers to go about their daily lives without fear of a seizure,” Williams explained, noting that seizures could be brought about by events ranging from strobe lighting to walking past the shadow of a line of trees.
“它有潜力通过光敏癫痫来真正改变世界各地的人们，也将帮助任何患有明亮光的人头痛和偏头痛的人。”
Developing and 3D printing the lenses
Williams won an NZ$5000 “Eureka!” scholarship from the New Zealand Ministry of Health in October for his initial lens designs, but 3D printing them was only an ambition.
“极性光学可以提供不同程度的极化，直接与光灵敏度相关，从而使全科医生可以开出它们。”威廉姆斯当时解释说：“它们也可以使用3D打印来生产，这使得镜头对全球市场的大规模农产品非常有效。”
The capacity to mass produce the Polar Optics contact lenses and customize them according to individual cornea shape or sensitivity to light has now been realized through 3D printing. The technology has already been used to 3D printLuxexcel的增强镜头and is now being adapted to创建自我修复凝胶用于电话屏幕。
“I am currently working with a manufacturing company in Europe to develop a wearable prototype for Polar Optics,” Williams revealed having estimated the cost of a pair oflenses to be NZ$20 (US$14)。“This is a novel, unique application of Polar Optics unlike anything currently implemented around the globe.”
Luxexcel employees operating their lens 3D printer. Photo via Luxexcel.
第二届年度3D印刷行业奖的提名现已开放。Make your selections now.
For more information on 3D printing and eyewear,subscribe to our free 3D Printing Industry newsletter, follow us onTwitter，喜欢我们Facebook。
特色图片显示洛根·威廉姆斯（Logan Williams）向尤里卡（Eureka）展示了极地光学！奖励小组。照片通过New Zealand Ministry of Health。
