Week in Review: Contact Lenses to Detect Glaucoma, Age and LASIK Efficacy, Whole-Eye Transplant Project

A weekly roundup of ophthalmic news from around the web.

Could contact lenses detect glaucoma? Results from a first-in-human pilot study conducted in Turkey show the potential of a contact lens–based continuous intraoperative pressure (IOP) monitoring system. A passive sensor is embedded in a disposable contact lens attached to a wearable electronic data collection and readout unit. The patient wears the lens for 24 hours and then returns to the clinic, where the IOP data are downloaded and reviewed. Six healthy volunteers piloted the system, and the lenses were able to detect IOP fluctuations throughout 24 hours. The authors conclude that “The initial measurements are promising towards generating long-term continuous IOP profiles that can lead to better informed clinical decisions,” and note that “further experiments with larger cohorts of healthy individuals and patients are planned to investigate the accuracy and reliability of the sensor.” Contact Lens and Anterior Eye

The efficacy of LASIK may decline with patient age, say researchers who performed a retrospective analysis of data from 682 consecutive patients who received at least 1 LASIK treatment at a single center in Germany over a 4-year period. Patients were divided into 2 age groups: 30–40 years (younger) and >55 years (older). Both groups had similar safety indexes following LASIK treatment, but younger patients had greater improvements in both corrected and uncorrected distance visual acuity. However, these efficacy findings were seen only among patients with myopia; in those with hyperopia, age did not influence visual acuity improvements. Scientific Reports

ARPA-H announces launch of whole-eye transplantation project. The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), part of the US Department of Health and Human Services, is launching an initiative to provide the option of whole-eye transplantation to some of the millions of Americans who suffer from blindness or visual impairment. Called the Transplantation of Human Eye Allografts (THEA) Program, the project will incorporate cell- and genetic-based therapies and current and emerging microsurgical techniques to promote the preservation and regrowth of optic nerves, enabling restoration of sight. Dr. Calvin Roberts, ARPA-H THEA Program Manager, said “With THEA, we aim to revolutionize the reconnection of nerves to the brain and make these advancements accessible in the United States and around the globe, with the ambition to offer an alternative to lifelong blindness.” Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health