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Glaucoma – an eye disease caused by damage to the optic nerve – could soon be cured with a simple contact lens, scientists say.
The lens, developed by a team of Chinese researchers, would release a drug to treat glaucoma after detecting too much pressure in the eye. The results of the study are published in the journal Type of communication.
The lens detects and reduces the increase in eye pressure
Glaucoma affects 1 to 2% of people over 40 and is the second leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Nearly 800,000 French people have to be treated each year.
The disease, which is characterized by the progressive destruction of the optic nerve, is most often caused by too much pressure inside the eye.
Recently, Chinese researchers revealed that they have developed a contact lens capable of treating glaucoma. This senses increases in pressure in the eye and releases medication if there is a buildup of aqueous humor.
Simply put, as the pressure inside the eye increases, the gap between the upper and lower lenses decreases. The pressure sensor then sends a signal to the wireless system which triggers the release of the treatment, from a hydrogel attached to an electrode. The medicine, brimonidine, then works to reduce the pressure in the eye.
These contact lenses, flexible and minimally invasive, have so far only been tested in animals: live pigs and rabbits. Human clinical trials are expected to start soon.
“This smart system provides promising methodologies that could be extended to other ophthalmic diseases“, conclude Yang and his colleagues.
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Glaucoma: symptoms to recognize
Glaucoma, in its chronic open-angle form, evolves silently for a long time. That is why it is often detected during an ophthalmological examination for another reason.
Conversely, chronic angle-closure glaucoma – much rarer – is characterized by closure of the iridocorneal angle. Intraocular pressure is very high and the disease progresses rapidly.
Some symptoms may indicate the presence of the disease:
- Headaches ;
- Suddenly blurred vision;
- A red eye;
- Eye pain;
- A perception of colored halos around the lights;
- Extreme sensitivity to light;
- A dilated pupil;
- Nausea and vomiting.
Pain in the eyes, intermittent visual fog and loss of vision – especially on the sides – are all telltale signs of already advanced glaucoma.