Piyush Garg: 3D-printed contact lenses – an alternative to eye drops

By Tienna Schade

Meet Piyush Garg, a PhD candidate in vision science at the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE). He previously completed his undergraduate and master's degrees in biotechnology at Amity University (Noida) in India, and is now studying under the supervision of Drs. Lyndon Jones and Chau-Minh Phan.  

Since he started his PhD studies in 2021, Piyush has been recognized several times for outstanding work. Recent awards include: 

• School of Optometry Class of 1948 Graduate Scholarship 

• Daytech Manufacturing Ltd. Prize 

• Ontario Graduate Scholarship 

• University of Waterloo Graduate Scholarship 

In fall 2023, Piyush was also selected for the prestigious Entrepreneurial PhD Fellowship at Waterloo’s Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business. This unique opportunity has enabled him to explore the intersection of technology, business and innovation through concurrent enrollment in a Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology. 

My thesis is focused on 3D printing custom-made contact lenses for drug delivery. For many years, eye drops have been the standard approach for topical ocular medication. However, because of the eye’s clearing mechanisms, part of the active medication is lost. Contact lenses are an innovative way to approach ocular drug delivery. They can limit drug loss by slowly releasing active substances, which ultimately allows the medication to stay on the eye's surface for a longer time.  

Given that using contact lenses for drug delivery is relatively novel, research is needed to further this domain. Various factors, such as the chemistry between the drug molecules and contact lens material, must be explored to create an optimal treatment option for patients. 

During my time as an undergraduate and master’s student, I was working at the intersection of materials science and biotechnology. From these experiences, I discovered my inclination to work in interdisciplinary fields. Soon after, I realized my interest in translational research that can directly impact the lives of others.  

Recently, we’ve been successful in standardizing a low-cost, commercially available 3D printer to print our contact lenses. This is exciting because we can now print our lenses using a 3D printer that has a significantly lower cost compared to other specialized high-resolution bioprinters available on the market.  It’s important to note that 3D printing of delicate structures, such as contact lenses, is only possible because of extensive optimization of the ink properties and 3D printing parameters.  

Currently, we are working on 3D-printed contact lenses loaded with a wetting agent to treat dry eye disease. We’ve been successful in optimizing the print conditions; however, further work is needed to enhance the material properties of these lenses. Among other factors, mechanical strength, water content, oxygen permeability and thickness need to be explored to produce a commercially viable product.  

Alongside these ventures, I am also keen to tap into my business and entrepreneurship background and learn more about the commercialization aspect of research. 

The field of contact lens and ocular drug delivery would benefit from people coming together from various interdisciplinary backgrounds. Perspectives from different areas of expertise such as chemical engineering, biomaterials sciences, pharmacy, chemistry, biotechnology, optometry and other related domains can bring valuable insight to the table. So, if you have experience in any of these fields and have an interest in applying your skills to treat ocular conditions, you should consider exploring this domain.