Patients with glaucoma in the early stages are most often unaware that they are suffering from the disease. New "smart" contact lenses make it possible to accurately measure and transmit eye pressure readings from various temperatures to the patient's eye doctor.
Glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve becomes damages. The optic nerve connects the brain to the eye and almost 3 million Americans deal with the disease. While doctors are able to diagnose glaucoma by recognizing a slight increase in intraocular pressure (IOP), this can be difficult because of the variation in temperatures that eyes experience.
Researchers tested the new "smart" lenses on three pigs. Intraocular pressure readings were successfully monitored and wirelessly transmitted in temperatures ranging from 50 to 122 degrees. The research team was pleased with the lenses' sensitivity and linearity in monitoring the IOP of swine eyes. Researchers are hopeful that these "smart" lenses will be able to provide the next generation of all-weather IOP monitoring devices for patients.
