Week in review: Optical illusion, eye mask, crocodile tears

A weekly roundup of ophthalmic news from around the web.

The FDA has cleared a new injector capable of delivering a controlled volume to a targeted subretinal delivery site. Designed by Gyroscope Therapeutics, the Orbit system is indicated for microinjection into the subretinal space, eliminating the need for a retinotomy and preventing the need for a vitrectomy. According to CEO Khurem Farooq, the approval paves way for a precise and consistent method to deliver ocular gene therapies. Gyroscope Therapeutics

Ever wonder why optical illusions make you feel like you’re spinning? Neuroscientists may have finally found some answers in fruit files. “It was exciting to find that flies perceive motion in static images the same way we do,” said Yale professor Damon Clark, PhD, whose team published their findings in PNAS. The new study suggests that flies experience optical illusion-induced motion due to an imbalanced response from direction-selective neurons. The researchers suspect a similar mechanism may be behind the illusion of motion experienced by humans. “Understanding these shared strategies can help us more fully understand the human visual system,” explained Clark. Yale, PNAS

Move over normal eye masks, there’s a new high-tech mask on the scene. Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst tout that their mask Chesma can unobtrusively measure pulse, eye movement and sleep signals when worn in an everyday environment. Unlike other inventions, this lightweight device can maintain a high signal-to-noise ratio while providing comfort and durability over 15 laundry cycles. This is, in part, due to the first-of-its-kind fabric-based hydrogel electrodes and pressure sensor embedded into the mask. Given its unique design, Chesma could help make new strides in biomedical and psycho-social research and may improve gaming and VR headsets. University of Massachusetts Amherst, Matter

Turns out not all crocodile tears are fake. According to a new study, real crocodile tears may hold clues to human eye health. Brazilian veterinarians report that the chemical makeup of tears from birds and reptiles are surprisingly similar to humans, but with varying electrolytes and protein levels that may track with whether the species live primarily on land or sea. An analysis of tear crystallization patterns revealed that crocodiles and sea turtles have “strikingly unique” patterns possibly due to their aquatic environments. The team hopes further analysis of how these animals keep their eyes wet and healthy could lead to new advancements in dry eye treatments. National Geographic, Frontiers in Veterinary Science