Advancing Ocular Care: Purdue Engineers Develop Smart Soft Contact Lenses for Chronic Disease Management
Purdue University's College of Engineering has embarked on a groundbreaking endeavor to enhance ocular health with the development of specialized smart soft contact lenses. These lenses aim to revolutionize the management of chronic ocular diseases such as glaucoma, corneal neovascularization, and dry eye syndromes. Spearheaded by Dr. Chi Hwan Lee, an expert in StickTronics and wearable biomedical devices, the research teams have secured two grants totaling $6.7 million from the National Eye Institute (NEI).
The innovative lenses, which leverage patent-pending technology, hold promise in continuously monitoring intraocular pressure (IOP)—a crucial factor in glaucoma management. Unlike traditional tonometers, which often compromise comfort due to increased lens thickness and stiffness, Purdue's smart soft contact lenses prioritize wearer comfort and usability. By retaining key features of commercial soft contact lenses, such as transparency and overnight wearability, while integrating cutting-edge smart technology, these lenses offer a seamless and effective solution for patients.
Dr. Lee emphasizes that the research will not only focus on enhancing the lenses' functionality but also on conducting rigorous clinical trials to evaluate their biosafety, usability, and therapeutic effectiveness. Collaborating with esteemed institutions like Indiana University's School of Optometry and Michigan Medicine, Purdue aims to pave the way for a paradigm shift in ocular care.
Supported by the NEI's steadfast commitment, Purdue's research teams are dedicated to advancing the field of ocular medicine. Through their collective efforts, they aspire to introduce an innovative, closed-loop system that enables simultaneous monitoring and drug delivery—a transformative development for veterinarians and their patients.
As Purdue's journey unfolds, veterinarians stand poised to benefit from this cutting-edge technology, offering new avenues for enhanced patient care and improved treatment outcomes. With the convergence of engineering prowess and medical innovation, Purdue's smart soft contact lenses herald a new era in ocular health management.
