doi: 10.3850/978-981-11-0749-8_719
Single Point Diamond Turning of Injection Moulding Aluminium Inserts for Intraocular Lens Production
Xabier Bazan1, Gaxan Cortazar1, Xabier Mendibil1, Iban Quintana1 and Ignacio Martinez de la Pera2
1Ultra-precision Processes Unit, IK4-TEKNIKER, C/ Iñaki Goenaga, 5, 20600 - Eibar, Spain
2Aurrenak S. Coop., C/ Vitorialanda, 15, 01010 - Vitoria, Spain
Abstract
Injection moulding of intraocular lenses (IOLs) would provide a cutting edge alternative to the production methods based on diamond turned polymer blanks. In this research, a dedicated injection mould was developed to replicate the geometry of a multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) demonstrator. The surfaces of the aluminium mould inserts which formed the injection cavity were machined using single point diamond turning. Surface finish dependence on material microstructure was analyzed. Injection moulding tests were performed to obtain the IOL demonstrator using an optical grade PMMA and micro-feature replication was analyzed. The optical characterization of the injection moulded PMMA IOL demonstrator confirmed that its optical performance was comparable to commercial multifocal IOLs manufactured by diamond turning.
Keywords: Diamond turning, Aluminium, Insert, Mould, Injection, Intraocular lens, IOL, PMMA.
