HEALTH


Future contact lenses will not only help us see better, but also monitor biomarkers of diseases such as diabetes, glaucoma, cancers and MS, reports Maria Burke


B 18 08 | 2017


ausch & Lomb commercialised the first soft contact lenses, made from a hydrogel, in 1971. The next generation of lenses incorporated silicone-containing polymers to increase comfort. Now, some researchers have turned their attention to ‘smart’


contact lenses, exploiting miniaturised electronics and transparent conducting materials. In future, it may be that our lenses won’t just improve vision, but will also monitor biomarkers of disease by measuring levels of sugars and proteins in our tears. Smart lenses for continuously monitoring glucose are a major


research area. In recent years, continuous glucose monitors (CGM) have entered the market, providing patients with more data and allowing tighter control over glucose levels. But CGM have drawbacks: most require inserting electrodes under the skin, which can be painful and can cause skin problems.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52