Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world after cataracts. This disease, caused by too much pressure in the eye, is difficult to detect because it is painless and invisible. Screening happens often too late, the optic nerve having already suffered damage. The researchers of thePolytechnic university de Lausanne and the company Tissot Medical Research have therefore developed contact lenses specially designed to detect glaucoma.
The only review of screeningavailable at the moment is the measurement of intraocular pressure using specialized devices, available to ophthalmologists. But intraocular pressure varies during the day, which makes this means of detection more or less reliable. In France, nearly 400,000 people out of the 600,000 with glaucoma are unaware that they suffer from this disease.
One measurement for every blink of the eye
Swiss researchers therefore worked on the development of a lensdisposable contact device, capable of measuring intraocular pressure continuously, for 24 hours. Composed of silicone and a set of sensors, it measures the pressure with each blink of the eyes. “When the eyelid closes, a slight bump exerts pressure on the cornea, causing the electrodes to come together” indicates Luc Tissot, founder of Tissot Medical Research.
Small antennas are attached to the patient’s glasses, picking up the data recorded by the lenses. A small portable box collects all data for 24 hours. The ophthalmologist just has to plug his USB key into the box and analyze the results on his computer. Clinical trials are currently underway at the Vaudois University Hospital Center in Switzerland.
