Aug 1, 2008 9:28 pm US/Pacific
Smart Contact Lens: New Hope For Glaucoma Patients
Reporting
Ron Jones
DAVIS (CBS13) ―
It's called the "smart contact lens," and U.C. Davis scientists created what could be a clear breakthrough for Glaucoma patients.
The technology is simply amazing. Engineers at U.C. Davis believe this smart contact lens can revolutionize how glaucoma patients see.
"It's just like wearing a contact lens. It's so simple you know," says Tingrui Pan, Biomedical Engineer.
Tingrui Pan is a Biomedical Engineer at UC Davis. He's researching a device that could change the way those with Glaucoma see the world.
"Just wear it like a regular contact lens. There's no difference," says Pan.
Glaucoma is a disease that gradually steals sight without warning. It's caused when excess fluid builds up in the eye, creating tremendous pressure. That pressure can damage the optic nerve, eventually leading to vision loss and possible blindness. But this smart lens may change all that.
"And then we shape this material into a contact shape," says Pan.
It's like a computer chip pressed into an average contact lens, enabling doctors to read and monitor dangerous pressure levels in the eye of the Glaucoma patient.
The technology is really simple. You just take the contact lens, and place it in your eye. The information from that contact lens is then sent to a device, something similar to a cell phone. The information from there is them sent to your doctor.
Theoretically the doctor then takes that information and determines that amount of medication needed to treat the patient, which could possibly stop the vision loss.
"We hope this contact lens technology will help people understand glaucoma better," explains Pan.
Engineers say it's a great prevention tool to detect the early stages of Glaucoma, but it's not a miracle cure.
As Pan's students continue to research, he can't wait to see this invention in practice.
"We need to help people so I'll be so excited about that," he says.
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