Eye Focus February 2019 | Page 6

Specsy is a two-year-old company that specializes in creating 3D printed frames custom tailored to each patient’s aesthetic preferences and technical requirements. The innovative company started out by producing frames in plastic resin before launching a “digital concrete” collection in September. The nylon frames are more durable, impact-resistant and lightweight than traditional acetate and are avail- able in a rainbow of colours, including red, orange, yellow, forest green, cobalt blue, purple, black and white. Specsy is now in the research and development stage of adding a third material - printed metal - to its lineup. 3D eyewear is the new kid on the optical industry block. And the technology has opened up a whole new world of customization options. As an example, companies like Specsy are able to create one-of-a-kind glasses that are perfectly suited for people with large faces, small nose bridges or unique facial features that make it difficult to wear conventional off-the- board frames. They can also print frames in a wide variety of colours, patterns or designs. 3D printed frames are also marketed as being extremely lightweight, yet durable and strong. 3D printing began in the mid-1980s, but really started to gain popularity years later as a way for the automotive and aerospace industries to create prototypes. 6 EYE FOCUS February Digital 2019 In 2007, the German company Mykita began experimenting with creating 3D-printed glasses using polyamide. It became the first company to begin making eyewear using the material and selective laser sintering technology, a 3D printing technique that had been used primarily to make automobile parts. In 2012, Mykita launched the world’s first collection of 3D-printed frames, called Mylon, according to the global media company 3D Printing Industry. Several start-up companies began making their own 3D frames in the years that followed. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that about a million pairs of 3D printed frames were expected to be purchased worldwide in 2018, far more than a few years prior.