Optical imaging systems have greatly extended human visual capabilities, enabling the observation and understanding of diverse phenomena. Imaging technologies span a broad spectrum of wavelengths from x-ray to radio frequencies and impact research activities and our daily lives. Traditional glass lenses are fabricated through a series of complex processes, while polymers offer versatility and ease of production. However, modern applications often require complex lens assemblies, driving the need for miniaturization and advanced designs with micro- and nanoscale features to surpass the capabilities of traditional fabrication methods. Three-dimensional (3D) printing, or additive manufacturing, presents a solution to these challenges with benefits of rapid prototyping, customized geometries, and efficient production, particularly suited for miniaturized optical imaging devices. Various 3D printing methods have demonstrated advantages over traditional counterparts, yet challenges remain in achieving nanoscale resolutions. Two-photon polymerization lithography (TPL), a nanoscale 3D printing technique, enables the fabrication of intricate structures beyond the optical diffraction limit via the nonlinear process of two-photon absorption within liquid resin. It offers unprecedented abilities, e.g. alignment-free fabrication, micro- and nanoscale capabilities, and rapid prototyping of almost arbitrary complex 3D nanostructures. In this review, we emphasize the importance of the criteria for optical performance evaluation of imaging devices, discuss material properties relevant to TPL, fabrication techniques, and highlight the application of TPL in optical imaging. As the first panoramic review on this topic, it will equip researchers with foundational knowledge and recent advancements of TPL for imaging optics, promoting a deeper understanding of the field. By leveraging on its high-resolution capability, extensive material range, and true 3D processing, alongside advances in materials, fabrication, and design, we envisage disruptive solutions to current challenges and a promising incorporation of TPL in future optical imaging applications.

Integrating micro-optical components at the end facet of an optical fiber enables compact optics to shape the output beam (e.g. collimating, focusing, and coupling to free space elements or photonic integrated circuits). However, the scalability of this approach is a longstanding challenge as these components must be aligned onto individual fiber facets. In this paper, we propose a socket that enables easy slotting of fibers, self-alignment, and coupling onto micro-optical components. This integrated socket can be detached from the substrate upon fiber insertion to create a stand-alone optical system. Fabrication is done using nanoscale 3D printing via two-photon polymerization lithography onto glass substrates, which allows multiple sockets to be patterned in a single print. We investigated variations in socket design and evaluated the performance of optical elements for telecom wavelengths. We obtained an alignment accuracy of ~3.5 µm. These socket designs can be customized for high efficiency chip to fiber coupling and extended to other spectral ranges for free-form optics.