Glaucoma Contact Lens Created to Study the Disease

More than likely you know someone who suffers from Glaucoma. This is a series disease that is the second leading cause of blindness. Top scientists and researchers from around the world have been studying the disease for decades and have failed to come up with a cure. One reason for this is because Glaucoma is tricky and is not just one single disease but a cluster of diseases that can come in various manifestations. In order to better understand the disease, microtechnology Sensimed has created a sensor based contact lens that could figure out the disease once and for all.

Sensimed designed the contact lens for glaucoma patients to wear throughout the day. Known as the Sensimed Triggerfish system, this wearable hydrogel silicon based lens has hundreds of embedded sensors and a microprocessor built into it. They will capture information from the patient's eye and transmit data wirelessly to a receiver that the patient will around their neck.

There is also an impressive strain gauge incorporated into the contact lens as well. This gauge will be able to detect when there is too much pressure in the eye. When there is pressure the eye causes the diameter of your cornea to change. The ability to monitor the ever changing characteristics of the eye due to glaucoma will allow doctors to better understand what is going on and tailor medication regimens for each individual case.

Looking at this technology more closely will also help you gain a better understanding of how important it will actually become. While the Triggerfish will offer doctors a better way of monitoring their patients, the most impressive aspect of it is it's ability to gather an around the clock picture of how glaucoma really works. This would eliminate the need of having a patient stay overnight so that you can monitor the disease. The system will do all the work for you.

It is important that researchers gain an edge in fighting glaucoma. Here is a disease that presents itself in so many different incarnations that it makes it almost impossible to come up with a cure. The ability to monitor how it operates and brings upon other illnesses is huge. Scientists now have a tremendous edge in studying this disease which could finally lead to a cure finally being found. The technology is currently going through testing phases with a few glaucoma patients and could be available throughout the medical field in about two years.

Sources:

1. Steven A. Mottor, My Own Review, 2010.

2. Technology Review, http://www.technologyreview.com/business/24931/page1/, 2010