3D printing technology for visually impaired patients- a review

Abstract

285 million individuals worldwide are visually impaired or blind, resulting in a significant public health burden. Every day is a struggle for a person who is blind or visually impaired. As it turns out, the utilization of 3D printing to manufacture orally dissolving printlets (ODPs) and Braille-encoded Intraoral Films, designed for patients with visual impairment, can be an excellent solution to this problem. In addition, SLS and FDM 3D printing technologies were used to create printlets and intraoral films with Braille and Moon patterns on their surfaces, permitting patients to identify drugs once they were removed from their original packaging. There is also more information, like medication's indication or dose regimen, was provided through printlets with a wide variety of shapes. There was only a slight alteration in the mechanical properties of intraoral films due to the patterns, but printlets preserved their authentic mechanical properties and dissolving properties despite the patterns' existence. Furthermore, blind volunteers verified the printlets' and intraoral films' readability. Therefore, individuals with visual impairments should benefit from this unique and practical strategy, which is expected to reduce medication errors and enhance medication adherence.