C Gustavo De Moraes, MD, an associate professor of ophthalmology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, and colleagues tested the Sensimed Triggerfish contact lens on 40 patients aged 40 to 89 who underwent treatment for open-angle glaucoma. Over two years, each patient underwent at least eight comprehensive eye exams, which were used to determine glaucoma progression. Patients were required to wear the smart lens for 24 hours, including during sleep.
Here are five insights:
1. At the end of the two years, 20 of the patients were identified as having slow disease progression, while the remaining 20 had fast disease progression.
2. Researchers found the patients who had the highest peaks in lens curvature at nighttime and who had an overall greater number of peaks in signal transfer were the ones who experienced faster glaucoma progression.
3. The lens is made of silicone and embedded with a micro-sensor that picks up on any changes in lens curvature. When the curve changes, an electrical signal is sent to a wireless antenna that is place around the eye and the antenna sends this information to a portable recorder worn by the patient. This data is then sent to the patient’s physician via Bluetooth.
4. The Sensimed Triggerfish lens has been approved for use in many European countries, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Italy and Australia, but it has not been approved for use in the United States.
5. The study team said these findings indicate the smart lens may be an effective tool in helping physicians identify which glaucoma patients are at greater risk for disease progression.
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