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SMART

Contact Lenses for

GLAUCOMA

Making Contact

By Shirley Ha, BSc. (Hons), O.D.

here is no cure for glaucoma but early detection of the disease is important
in slowing down optic neuropathy; so is monitoring the changes in
intra-ocular pressure (IOP) throughout the day and during the night while
Tthe patient is lying down. This is because in ambulatory settings, IOP has
been shown to vary with postural changes, with the nocturnal IOP being generally
higher than the diurnal IOP in supine position.
For several decades, efforts have been IOP SENSING
made to create ambulatory, 24/7 IOP In contrast, researchers at Purdue
measuring instruments. Current University developed a special class of
wearable ocular tonometers, such as flexible, curved smart contact lenses,
the TriggerFish lens from Sensimed enhanced with sensors and other tiny
AG, are thick and stiff and frequently electronics. They are available in a
cause adverse effects such as foreign variety of commercial soft contact lens
body sensation, eye pain, superficial brands that are more comfortable,
punctate keratitis, corneal epithelial even during sleep, for the continuous
defects, and conjunctival erythema. As monitoring of IOP fluctuations during
well, they are often inaccurate and can 24-hour cycles.
be technically challenging for elderly
glaucoma patients.

20 / JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2023 / www.ENVISIONMAGAZINE.ca /