3D-Printed Eyelid Crutches
Visiting us? See Red Bank hours, parking, and map.
Call now — see what you have been missing. Book an eye exam
Eyelid crutches — also called ptosis crutches — are small supports fitted to an eyeglass frame to hold a drooping upper eyelid clear of the line of sight. Crystal Eyecare designs, prints, and fits them in-house, on our own SLA 3D printer, for selected patients seeking a non-surgical option.
Why 3D printing changes the fitting
Traditionally an eyelid crutch is bent by hand, in wire or plastic, by a specialist optician — and there are very few of them. Every revision means reworking the same physical part.
A 3D-printed crutch starts as a digital model. The arch, the clip geometry, and the thickness are parameters, not bends. When a fitting shows that the arch sits a millimetre too low or the bar presses too hard, we change the model and print the next version, rather than fighting the last one.
This is not a novel idea, and we do not claim to have invented it. Sun and colleagues at the University of Illinois at Chicago described exactly this workflow — design, print, fit, revise, reprint — in 3D printing for low cost, rapid prototyping of eyelid crutches (Orbit, 2019). What is unusual is finding a practice that actually has the printer, the optician, and the clinical evaluation under one roof.
What we work with
- Printer. A Formlabs Form 2, a stereolithography (SLA) machine that cures photopolymer resin one laser-drawn layer at a time.
- Resolution. 100, 50, and 25 micron layer thickness — the fine end matters on a part this small.
- Design. Fusion 360 and Autodesk MeshMixer.
- Frame. Usually your own. The crutch is fitted to the frame you already wear, or to a frame chosen with the crutch in mind. See bespoke eyewear if the frame itself needs to be built around the problem.
Who may be a candidate
Eyelid crutches are considered in selected cases, including ptosis associated with:
- Myogenic ptosis and muscular dystrophy
- Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO)
- Ocular and generalized myasthenia gravis
- Third cranial nerve palsy
- Horner syndrome
- Aponeurotic, congenital, traumatic, mechanical, post-surgical, contact-lens-related, and idiopathic acquired ptosis
They are not right for everyone. Candidacy depends on the cause of the ptosis, corneal and tear-film health, how completely the eyelid closes, and whether a frame can carry the support comfortably. Poor eyelid closure and a dry ocular surface are the usual reasons to say no. That assessment is the appointment.
What the process looks like
- Evaluation. Cause, lid position, corneal surface, tear film, closure, and what you actually need to see.
- Measurement. Eye-to-frame distance, lid margin position, and the frame itself.
- Design and print. A model is drawn, printed, and finished in-office.
- Fitting. You wear it. We watch. Almost always there is a second version, sometimes a third.
- Follow-up. Comfort and corneal health are checked; the crutch is revised or reprinted as needed.
If you are traveling to us from out of state or abroad — and patients do — call first. Some of this can be compressed; some of it cannot.
Before your visit
Download the ptosis crutch patient intake form and bring it, along with the glasses you wear most.
Related
- Ptosis crutches and frame modifications — the full service page, including remote consultations
- 3D printing services — the printer, materials, and design assistance
- Low vision services and products
Questions people ask
What is an eyelid crutch?
An eyelid crutch, also called a ptosis crutch, is a small support bar fitted to an eyeglass frame. It rests against the upper eyelid and helps hold it higher so the eyelid does not block the line of sight.
How is a 3D-printed eyelid crutch different from a traditional one?
Traditional crutches are bent by hand from wire or plastic by a specialist optician. A 3D-printed crutch starts as a digital model, so the shape can be revised and reprinted quickly between fittings rather than reworked by hand.
Is a 3D-printed eyelid crutch a substitute for surgery?
No. Eyelid crutches are a non-surgical option that may be considered when surgery is not appropriate, not yet planned, or not effective. Whether a crutch is a reasonable option depends on the cause of the ptosis, corneal health, tear film, and eyelid closure, and is decided during an evaluation.
Can you fit an eyelid crutch remotely?
Crystal Eyecare works with both in-office and remote patients, including people traveling from outside New Jersey. Remote arrangements are handled case by case and depend on measurements, frame selection, and follow-up. Call 732-615-9300 to ask whether your situation is suitable.
Which conditions are eyelid crutches used for?
They are considered in selected cases of myogenic ptosis, chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia, ocular and generalized myasthenia gravis, third cranial nerve palsy, Horner syndrome, aponeurotic, congenital, traumatic, mechanical, post-surgical, contact-lens-related, and idiopathic acquired ptosis.